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Chechnya
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those UK companies known to be operating in Chechnya during 1998 with the goods and services which they have supplied to Chechnya. [64796]
Ms Quin: The only British company which we know to have operated in Chechnya during 1998 is Granger Telecom. We understand that this company was working on a local and satellite communications project in Grozny. The exact details are a matter for the company.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of the written communications between Granger Telecom and his Department during 1998. [64794]
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Mr. Tony Lloyd:
In agreement with Granger Telecom, I have placed in the Library copies of the two written communications between the FCO and the company before the tragic kidnap of 3 October 1998. I am also placing in the Library a copy of my letter of 11 December and 8 January to the hon. Member, which set these communications in context.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department was first informed of activities by Granger Telecom in Chechnya. [64795]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
In July 1998: Granger Telecom wrote to HM Ambassador, Moscow, on 9 July 1998 supporting visa applications for the UK by Chechens associated with Granger Telecom's activities in Chechnya.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to set up a Committee on Human Rights to investigate human rights abuses abroad. [65003]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We have no immediate plans to set up a Committee on Human Rights. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office receives full information on human rights violations abroad, including from UK official sources diplomatic reporting, international organisations and from non-governmental organisations, academic institutions and the media, including the BBC Monitoring Service from Caversham. The FCO also receives relevant human rights reports by other governments, including the State Department's Annual Report. All this information is routinely available to all FCO officials.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the series of notes and memoranda which are produced by the research analysts and economic advisers departments. [65080]
Mr. Fatchett:
These papers cover politically and economically sensitive subjects and are not produced for use outside of government. Each note or memorandum is added to the public record and made available when no longer sensitive, in classes FO 972-3 at the Public Record Office, Kew.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to incorporate the EU Code of Conduct on arms sales into UK law. [64708]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
EU Member States adopted the Code of Conduct on Arms Exports as a political commitment rather than as a Joint Action or Common Position, which would have been legally binding. It would not therefore be appropriate to incorporate the Code of Conduct in UK law, especially as our national arms export licensing criteria, which are similar to those in the Code of Conduct, are not thus incorporated.
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Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to publish detailed annual reports on arms exports; and if he will make a statement. [64709]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
As to the content of the Government's first annual report on the UK's strategic export controls, I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 14 July 1998 to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr, Jones), Official Report, column 149. As to the timing of publication, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 27 November 1998, Official Report, column 38.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost was to his Department of its contributions towards Operation Angel in North West England; [64509]
Mr. Boateng:
Operation Angel was the name given to an investigation by Lancashire Constabulary into allegations of public sector corruption in the Preston area. The cost of the investigation was borne by the Lancashire Constabulary from within its normal budget. My Department has not incurred any direct costs for the investigation. Information on costs falling to other Departments or public bodies financed through the council tax is not collected by the Home Office.
Mr. Livingstone:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which UK police forces have had CS gas issued to them since 1968. [63929]
Mr. Boateng:
All police forces in England and Wales have issued their officers with CS incapacitant spray except Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Sussex. An operational pilot has recently been completed in two forces in Scotland: Strathclyde and Tayside. CS incapacitant spray is not issued in Northern Ireland.
CS dispersed in smoke for use in situations of public disorder has been available to all police forces since 1968 for use as a tactical option. It is a matter for individual chief officers of police to decide whether to hold CS for this purpose.
Ms Atherton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance the Government will offer to Cornwall in dealing with problems arising from the total eclipse of the sun on 11 August 1999. [65033]
Mr. George Howarth:
The Home Office is responsible for emergency planning in England and Wales and makes an annual grant to county level local authorities to make plans for emergencies. This grant complements the local authority's own commitment.
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Under Integrated Emergency Management arrangements, local emergency planners develop non-specific and flexible plans designed to produce a multi-agency response to the effects of an incident irrespective of the cause. This approach is ideal for an incident such as the Eclipse which is not an unforeseen emergency, but is an event for which there has been sufficient time for local services to plan. There are arrangements to seek mutual aid, if required, from services in other areas and ultimately from the military.
My officials have been involved in discussions with those responsible for planning the response to the Eclipse, including the Chief Executive of Cornwall County Council and the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and will continue to watch developments closely offering assistance where possible.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration has been given to introducing an independent licensing authority and regulatory framework for private security firms. [64538]
Mr. Boateng:
We intend to introduce statutory regulation for the private security industry as soon as possible. We will not be able to bring forward early legislation, as we warned before the election, but we completed a consultation exercise with the industry and others last year on the best way to provide a comprehensive, effective and streamlined system. We are determined to develop practical proposals which protect the safety and rights of the public without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy. We hope to bring forward firm proposals shortly.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role private security firms will undertake as part of Crime and Disorder Act 1998 partnerships; and if he will make a statement. [64539]
Mr. Boateng:
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 does not specifically provide a role for the private security industry. However, the requirement for local authorities and police in every area to produce strategies to reduce crime and disorder gives all members of the community--including the private security industry--the opportunity to make a contribution to the development and implementation of those strategies.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government have taken to enable the youth justice system to prevent offending by children and young persons. [64537]
Mr. Boateng:
Measures to enable the youth justice system to prevent offending by children and young persons are contained in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; others are within the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Bill currently before Parliament.
The Crime and Disorder Act introduces the final warning scheme in place of repeat cautioning of young offenders; new community-based court disposals to prevent or address youth offending and its causes; and multi-agency youth offending teams to turn young offenders away from crime. These measures are being piloted in ten areas of the country ahead of national implementation. The Act also contains measures to speed
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up the youth justice system and establishes the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales to monitor the operation of the system and provide advice on how the aim of preventing offending might most effectively be achieved.
(2) what the total cost was of Operation Angel in the North West of England to (a) the Government and (b) public bodies financed through the council tax. [64508]
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