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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Nuclear Fuels
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the proliferation risks posed by the use of plutonium-mixed-oxide based nuclear fuels. [64816]
Mr. Battle: I have been asked to reply.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on 2 December 1997, Official Report, column 122.
Ambassador's Residence
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what prices were accepted by his Department for the British Ambassador's residence and associated property which were for sale by public tender on 2 December. [65683]
Mr. Fatchett:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 14 December 1998, Official Report, column 403, in respect of the sale of the Glencairn Estate in Dublin. Tenders have now been evaluated, but we have not yet closed the sale. Even when we do, it is not our policy to reveal details of price and other terms agreed in such transactions.
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Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights implications of the trial of Hilary Boma and Lino Sebit in Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [64841]
Mr. Fatchett:
There have been a number of disturbing allegations about the trial of those people charged with plotting and carrying out the bombings in Khartoum in June 1998. We have raised these with the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum and in London.
At the end of December, the Constitutional Circle of the Sudanese High Court ruled that the trial of 20 defendants, including the two Catholic priests Hilary Boma and Lino Sebit, be suspended while the High Court considers an appeal challenging the legality of the defendants being tried before a military court.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Sierra Leone. [65699]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We are very concerned by the current situation in Sierra Leone. The democratically elected government remains under direct threat from a strong rebel force. We are closely monitoring the humanitarian situation. We fully support the democratically elected government of Sierra Leone; and the efforts of the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG) to restore peace and security. We are providing £3 million worth of direct logistic assistance to ECOMOG and the Government of Sierra Leone. HMS Norfolk, a Type 23 frigate, has been instructed to move to the region as a precautionary measure. We are monitoring events in Sierra Leone carefully. We are in close touch with the United Nations and others about the situation on the ground.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the Government to publicise the legal position on the supply of arms to Sierra Leone since the publication of the Legg report; and if he will make a statement. [65704]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Following the adoption by the Security Council on 5 June 1998 of a new resolution on the supply of arms to Sierra Leone, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a press statement welcoming its adoption. On 16 June 1998 I described the content of the resolution in my written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby), Official Report, column 199, drawing attention to the fact that the resolution would ensure that the arms embargo on Sierra Leone applied to non-governmental forces but made explicit exemption for ECOMOG and the United Nations. I also explained that Orders in Council were being prepared to give full effect to the resolution in UK law.
In addition to my right hon. Friend's press statement the FCO News Department briefed the media extensively on the details of the resolution both before and after its adoption. In addition a telegram issued on 23 July informing all FCO and Whitehall Departments, and posts overseas, of the scope and implications of the provisions of the Orders in Council.
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These steps were taken before the publication of the Legg report on 27 July.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on reports that information obtained by UNSCOM inspectors in Iraq was made available to the United States Government; if any such information was made available to Her Majesty's Government; what inquiries he has made into such reports; and what discussions he has had with the US Government concerning these reports. [65696]
Mr. Fatchett:
Both the UK and US Governments have made clear that all information exchanges between themselves and UNSCOM have been strictly in pursuit of UNSCOM's mandate to dismantle Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction capability.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Iraq. [65697]
Mr. Fatchett:
We are currently considering ideas with friends and allies for a way forward on Iraq. Discussions in the Security Council are focusing on disarmament questions and the humanitarian situation in Iraq. We are also looking with EU partners at proposals for alleviating the suffering to which Saddam Hussein continues to subject the Iraqi people.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what evidence he has obtained of British companies supplying weapons to (a) the Congo, (b) Uganda and (c) Liberia; and if he will make a statement; [65698]
(3) what evidence he has obtained of British companies supplying weapons to Sierra Leone; what investigation he has ordered into reports of such supplies; and if he will make a statement. [65702]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
A recent newspaper article alleged that two British companies may have been involved in supplying arms to Sierra Leone, via the Gambia and Liberia, in breach of the UN arms embargo. The article also alleged that one of the companies may have delivered arms to the DRC via Uganda and Rwanda. The FCO have drawn these allegations to the attention of Customs and Excise who are responsible for the investigation and prosecution of any alleged breaches of UK legislation implementing arms embargoes.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Kosovo. [65682]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The OSCE-led Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM) has already demonstrated its ability to make real difference to the situation on the ground by negotiating local ceasefires in Podujevo during the
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Christmas weekend and playing an instrumental role in negotiations concerning the release of 8 Yugoslav soldiers seized by the UCK on 8 January. There are currently 745 KVM personnel on the ground in Kosovo, 110 of whom are British.
It is crucial that the ceasefire be maintained. We are concerned at the rising tensions in recent weeks, with provocations from both sides. We have called on both sides to show restraint and pursue their objectives through negotiations.
The UK is pressing for rapid progress on the political track which alone can tackle the roots of the problem, and fully supports the efforts of US Envoy Ambassador Chris Hill and EU Special Envoy Ambassador Petritsch. This is not a conflict which either side can win militarily, and now above all is the time for the Government in Belgrade and the leaders of the Kosovo Albanians to show the courage and vision to engage seriously in negotiations with direct international involvement.
14. Sir David Madel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for the future of the teaching profession. [64049]
Ms Estelle Morris:
The Government are investing £19 billion extra over the next three years to improve education in the UK. Part of this investment is intended to modernise the teaching profession. The Green Paper, "Teachers: meeting the challenge of change", published in early December, set out a wide-ranging vision of stronger school leadership; rewards for success and incentives for excellence; a stronger culture of personal development; and better support in the classroom.
15. Caroline Flint:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what evidence he has obtained of the effectiveness of the numeracy hour in primary schools. [64050]
Ms Estelle Morris:
Reports from OFSTED and the National Foundation for Educational Research both point to the success of the daily mathematics lesson piloted in the National Numeracy Project. The daily lesson is an important part of the National Numeracy Strategy and will begin in primary schools this September.
(2) what evidence he has obtained of possible breaches of the UN embargo on arms supplies to Sierra Leone; what investigation he has ordered into reports of such breaches; and if he will make a statement; [65703]
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