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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Special Advisers
Mr. Robert Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the special advisers in his Department and the issues on which they specialise; and to what level they have been security cleared. [62839]
Mr. Robin Cook: David Clark and Andrew Hood are currently employed as Special Advisers in my Department. They are employed under terms and conditions based on the Model Contract for Special Advisers, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
David Clark is advising me on European Affairs and Security Policy.
Andrew Hood is advising me on policy related to Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Asia, international trade policy, human rights, the global environment, the arms trade and the Commonwealth.
Both work in accordance with Schedule 1 (Part 1) of the Model Contract.
Special Advisers are subject to the usual security clearance arrangements. Both Mr. Clark and Mr. Hood have been cleared to the same level as senior FCO officials.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1998, Official Report, column 167, concerning MI6 personnel taking up private sector posts, how many cases have been (a) referred to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and (b) subject to consideration by himself; and of those he has considered, how many he has (i) approved, (ii) rejected and (iii) deferred. [63856]
Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 15 December 1998]: Since 1 May 1997 the case of one retiring SIS officer has been referred to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, and another to the Cabinet Secretary. In both cases, recommendations were subsequently put to me to confirm approval, which I did.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of active landmines which are buried in the (a) Republic of Cyprus and (b) occupied area of Northern Cyprus. [64296]
11 Jan 1999 : Column: 80
Ms Quin:
A UN Mine Action Service paper of November 1998 reported an estimated total of 16,942 landmines in Cyprus. In June 1998 the UN Secretary- General's report on the United Nations operation in Cyprus stated that there are 38 minefields and booby-trapped areas inside the UN buffer zone and a further 73 within 500m of it. It confirmed that UNFICYP continues to seek precise information about minefields from both sides.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1998, Official Report, columns 167-68, if the telephone system in his Department has the capability to record external numbers dialled from particular telephone extensions. [64516]
Mr. Fatchett:
We are in the process of acquiring, from CCTA, call logging equipment which will enable calls to be identified.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka last visited the Jaffna area; whom he met; and what report he has submitted on his discussions and views regarding that meeting. [64522]
Mr. Fatchett:
Our High Commissioner last visited Jaffna on 20 and 21 August 1998. This was his third visit since 1996. Other officials from the High Commission have also made regular visits.
The High Commissioner met the Government Agent, the Vicar General, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, members of the aid community, the Headmistress of a girl's school, and the Major and Municipal councillors.
His report highlighted a number of areas where Britain might be able to offer some development assistance. These are being pursued.
He also gave a short speech at the Municipal Council office when he observed that there had been much progress in the development of Jaffna since his first visit and appealed to Tamil communities outside Sri Lanka to contribute to the reconstruction of Jaffna.
Mr. Love:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Sri Lanka regarding a resolution of the continuing conflict with the Tamil community; and if he will make a statement. [65066]
Mr. Fatchett:
We believe a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka can be reached only through a political settlement. During my visit to Colombo in November last year I made clear to the Sri Lankan Government that we remain ready to help in the resolution of the conflict if both sides ask us to play a role.
Mr. Curry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to support Kuwait in pressing for the return home of Kuwaiti (a) missing persons and (b) prisoners of war, or of their remains, from Iraq following the Gulf conflict. [64583]
11 Jan 1999 : Column: 81
Mr. Fatchett:
We continue to play a leading role in the Tripartite Commission and Technical Sub-Committee meetings which work to resolve the cases of the 600 or more Kuwaitis missing since the Gulf War. We fully support the International Committee of the Red Cross which chairs these meetings in its attempts to seek the truth about the whereabouts of the missing. We have seen reports that Iraq has postponed indefinitely its participation in the Technical Sub-Committee meetings. We are discussing this further with the ICRC. We are concerned at this sign of a new level of Iraqi non- cooperation on the issue. It is appalling that Iraq has done so little to date to account for the Kuwaiti missing.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take measures to ensure that (a) all arms transfers require legally binding end-use certification, (b) British embassies are required to check end-user documentation relating to the recipient country and (c) details of end-users relating to the granting or refusal of export licences are included in annual reports of strategic exports to Parliament. [64535]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
All applications for Standard Individual Export Licences to export goods controlled for strategic reasons must be supported by appropriate End-User Undertakings, or, if the consignee is a government body, a copy of the relevant part of the official purchase order or contract. It would not be possible to make End-User Undertakings binding on the end-user or consignee in UK law without the assumption of extra-territorial powers by the Government.
We regularly ask our overseas posts to carry out checks in cases where we wish to confirm the accuracy of the information contained in end-user documentation.
On the content of the forthcoming annual report on strategic exports, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) on 14 July 1998, Official Report, column 149. Information on licences issued and refused will be broken down by country but will not include details of individual end-users.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the good governance work of the British Council and its contribution to an ethical dimension in foreign policy. [65183]
Mr. Fatchett:
The promotion of good government worldwide is a priority for the Government and a central feature in building an ethical dimension in foreign policy. The British Council makes a valuable contribution to this policy in its work overseas in areas such as the promotion of democratic institutions and procedures, the reform of public sector institutions, the role of the media, legal systems and conflict resolution.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) extent and (b) impact of reductions in the Government grant to the British Council between 1979 and 1996. [65185]
11 Jan 1999 : Column: 82
Mr. Fatchett:
From 1979 the British Council's grant-in-aid fluctuated considerably with reductions in 1979-80, 1980-81, 1986-87 and 1992-93. The most recent reduction was in 1996-97 when the grant-in-aid decreased by 6 per cent. in real terms. As a result the Council reduced its headquarters staff by 26 per cent., relocated its Manchester office and restructured overseas directorates. In spite of these fluctuations, the Council expanded its overseas network from 70 countries in 1979 to 109 in 1996 in response to changes in the international environment and the opportunities these opened up.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the progress being made by the British Council in appointing a new Director-General. [65184]
Mr. Fatchett:
The British Council has received a good response to its recruitment campaign for a new Director General. The Nomination Sub-Committee of the Board of the British Council expects to draw up a short list of candidates this month and to conduct final interviews in February. Given normal notice periods the Council hopes to have a new Director General in place by June.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the benefit to Britain of the English language teaching and promotion undertaken by the British Council. [65186]
Mr. Fatchett:
The FCO's annual survey of the work of the British Council demonstrates that the Council's English language work is making an increasingly important contribution to the objectives of British missions abroad. This work increases respect for British values and creates export opportunities for the UK, while being welcomed by host countries as a valued contribution to their communities.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his plans for the British Council over the next five years. [65182]
Mr. Fatchett:
The British Council, as the UK's principal agency for cultural relations overseas, will continue to contribute to the achievement of the Government's foreign policy objectives for the foreseeable future. Working in close consultation with the FCO and through its skill and expertise, it will provide essential support to our overall diplomatic effort.
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