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United Nations Day
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives Her Majesty's Government took in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) British overseas territories, (c) the United Nations in New York and (d) the United Nations in Geneva to mark United Nations Day on 24 October. [13747]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: Staff at the United Nations in New York and Geneva attended special commemorative events. We took no specific initiatives to mark United Nations Day.
Lockerbie
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 28 October, Official Report, columns 700-02, if Her Majesty's Government have had sight of that part of the Lockerbie evidence held by the United States. [13934.]
Mr. Tony Lloyd [holding answer 3 November 1997]: As my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office, told the hon. Member on 30 October, Official Report, column 876, there has been very full co-operation throughout the investigation between the Scottish and United States authorities. Appropriate arrangements have been made for the sharing of information and evidence.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 28 October, Official Report, column 700-02, what
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evidence he has now evaluated to establish that, with the exception of Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, the majority of US relatives do not want a trial outside the US or Scotland. [13936]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 3 November 1997]: Our embassy in Washington is in touch with a number of American Lockerbie relatives, some of whom represent groups of other families. I understand that most favour trial in Scotland or the United States, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
"Victims of Flight 103"--the group which represents the largest number of American relatives, shares this view.
The US Administration, on the basis of its contacts with a wide range of the families, also believes that the overwhelming majority are opposed to a trial outside the United States or Scotland.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 28 October, Official Report, columns 700-02, for what reasons it is not possible to mount a prosecution of Libyan suspects for the Lockerbie bombing in Scotland without the co-operation of the US authorities. [13935]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 3 November 1997]: The UK and US authorities have co-operated closely throughout this investigation. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 28 October, Official Report, column 700-01, it would not be possible to mount a prosecution without the co-operation of the US authorities who hold part of the evidence.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held with the Government of Ghana concerning human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Ghana. [13665]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 3 November 1997]: We have not held any recent discussions with the Government of Ghana concerning human rights. We continue to monitor the human rights situation in Ghana closely, and raise specific issues with the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice.
We have excellent bilateral relations with Ghana.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of Sri Lanka concerning the conflict with Tamil groups; what mediation services have been offered; and if he will make a statement. [13667]
Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 3 November 1997]: We have regular discussions with the Sri Lankan Government on a range of issues, including their efforts to find a resolution to the ethnic conflict. We have said publicly that we stand ready to help in those efforts if both sides ask us to play a role.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by the Government to the Government of Algeria concerning human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement. [13488]
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Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 3 November 1997]: I continue to be seriously concerned about the security situation in Algeria. I condemn the violence unreservedly and call on those responsible to end the appalling atrocities which have been inflicted on innocent civilians for much too long. We urge the Algerian Government and all interested parties to find early solutions to this major internal problem. I was concerned to learn about reports of fraud in the local and municipal elections held on 23 October 1997 and hope that the Algerian Government will continue to make active progress in its programme of democratisation.
Mr. Rooney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many requests since 1 May he and his Ministers have received from hon. Members to discuss individual cases; and how many of these have been granted. [13878]
Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 3 November 1997]: I regret that we do not keep records that would enable us to answer this question. Requests from hon. Members to discuss individual cases are not declined.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made by Her Majesty's Government after 1 May concerning reform of the European Court of Justice. [14411]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
None. There was little support for such reform in the intergovernmental conference.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the additional areas in which the European Court of Justice will gain jurisdiction as a result of the Amsterdam treaty; [14408]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for South-West Devon (Mr. Streeter) on 18 July, Official Report, column 360.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average time taken by his Department to give full answers to letters received from hon. Members. [13950]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 3 November, Official Report, column 5.
In 1996 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers replied to 10,674 letters from hon. Members, of which 94 per cent. were replied to within the target of 10 working days.
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Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the powers available under the social chapter of the treaty of European Union are subject to qualified majority voting. [14406]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The agreement on social policy allows for legislation to be adopted in 10 different areas. Five of these are subject to qualified majority voting.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the additional powers gained by the European Parliament as a result of the treaty of Amsterdam. [14412]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for South-West Devon (Mr. Streeter) on 18 July, Official Report, column 361.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional legislation will be required in the United Kingdom to implement the provisions of article 141 of the treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the treaty of Amsterdam, relating to equal pay for work of equal value; and if he will make a statement. [14310]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
The amendments to the EC Treaty provided for in the treaty of Amsterdam will be implemented in the UK by the European Communities (Amendment) Bill.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has consulted other departments in assessing the legal implications of article 137 of the treaty establishing the European Community as amended by the Amsterdam treaty as concerns increased litigation in the areas so covered. [14270]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
All Government departments with an interest were involved in preparing our negotiating position for Amsterdam.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals are currently being prepared at European Union level to assist harmonisation in the fields of the promotion of (a) employment (b) improved living conditions and (c) improved working conditions, under article 136 of the treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the treaty of Amsterdam. [14312]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
No proposals are planned under article 136.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if decisions to impose sanctions under the common foreign and security policy of the European Union under the provisions of the Amsterdam treaty will be taken by qualified majority voting. [14410]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Under the Amsterdam treaty unanimity will remain the general rule for decision making in the common foreign and security policy, including for the imposition of any sanctions. However, the treaty also provides for the Council to act by qualified
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majority when taking decisions based on a common strategy, or when implementing a joint action or common position. But any member state may block such a decision for important and stated reasons of national policy.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the status of the agreement on quota hopping reached at the Amsterdam summit. [14407]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
In an exchange of letters at Amsterdam between my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission, the Commission set out measures we can take to address the problem of quota hopping. The Commission confirmed that the UK can require UK-flagged vessels to demonstrate that their activities contribute substantial economic benefits for populations dependent on fishing and related industries in the UK. Fisheries departments are currently working up a package of measures based on the Commission guidance in consultation with the fishing industry.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the institutions referred to as management and labour in section 4 of article 137 and section 1 of article 139 of the treaty establishing the European Community as amended by the Amsterdam treaty, include institutions other than the Social Partners; and if he will make a statement. [14311]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Social partners is simply another way of describing representatives of management and labour.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with other departments on article 140 of the treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the treaty of Amsterdam; what reservations were expressed; what study is currently being undertaken on projects to be undertaken under this article; and if he will make a statement. [14309]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
All Government Departments with an interest were involved in preparing our negotiating position for Amsterdam and were content that we should agree article 140 (ex article 118c). Article 140 is not yet in force and no projects under it are planned.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what cost-benefit analysis he has undertaken of programmes planned to be introduced under article 137 of the treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the Amsterdam treaty. [14313]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Article 137 is not yet in force. But it is likely that measures under discussion under article 2 of the agreement on social policy when the Amsterdam treaty came into force would subsequently come under article 137. The costs and benefits of any such proposals would be assessed in the normal way.
(2) if he will make a statement on the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice over the third pillar of the European Union following the Amsterdam treaty. [14409]
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