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Iraq
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Russian Prime Minister about his statement concerning the bombardment of Iraq. [65387]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 14 January 1999]: I sent a message to Prime Minister Primakov explaining our policy on Iraq. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was in close touch with his Russian counterpart during and after operation Desert Fox. We are now working with the Russians and other Security Council members to find a way forward.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek to hold discussions with the Government of Iran about the consequences of military action against Iraq for the strength of the position of Saddam Hussein. [66465]
The Prime Minister: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was in contact with his Iranian counterpart during Operation Desert Fox. Bilateral discussions continue at official level.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter from the Religious Society of Friends in Britain of 17 December concerning military action against Iraq. [65473]
The Prime Minister: My Office has no record of having received this letter.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons he agreed to the decision to act quickly against Iraq before the period of Ramadan. [65389]
The Prime Minister:
I told the House on 16 November 1998, Official Report, columns 607-23, that I would have no hesitation in ordering the use of force once again if Iraq failed to live up to its undertaking to afford UN weapons inspectors full co-operation in every respect. The
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Executive Chairman of UNSCOM was asked to report on Iraq's co-operation over the month that followed. He delivered his report on 15 December 1998 and its conclusions were unequivocal. Iraq had failed to co-operate fully with UNSCOM and had even introduced new restrictions. My decision to authorise military action was taken on that basis.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister when he was consulted by the United States about its decision to bomb Iraq. [65390]
The Prime Minister:
We were in close contact with the Americans on all aspects of policy towards Iraq, before, during and after military action. The decision to launch Operation Desert Fox was a joint one.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Prime Minister how many United Kingdom nominations his office received for New Year and Birthday Honours in 1998; and how many United Kingdom honours were awarded in (a) the 1998 Birthday List and (b) the 1999 New Year List. [65905]
The Prime Minister:
In 1998 the Nominations Unit received 3,500 new honours nominations from members of the public and my office received some 4,000 nominations from Departments (most proposed by national bodies, associations and voluntary organisations) for consideration in the 1998 Honours Lists. The number of awards in my Honours List covering the whole range of activities in the United Kingdom made at (a) Birthday 1998 and at (b) New Year 1999 was 983. In both Lists, over 40 per cent. of the awards resulted from nominations made by members of the public. However, as it takes up to a year, and in some cases longer, for nominations to be fully validated and assessed, it is not possible to relate the number of nominations received in any one year to the number of candidates considered for particular Honours Lists.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those occasions since 1 May 1997 when he has visited New York, listing his mode of transport to and from the United Kingdom. [66363]
The Prime Minister:
I have visited New York on two occasions since 1 May 1997. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan) on 25 February 1998, Official Report, columns 250-51, and to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire) on 19 October 1998, Official Report, column 914. On both occasions I travelled by commercial aircraft.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Prime Minister if the Government endorsed at the Heads of Government meeting at Portschach the principle of the United Kingdom joining Eurocorps. [66427]
The Prime Minister:
No. We have no plans for the United Kingdom to join Eurocorps.
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Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the BBC concerning the BBC's handling of the Iraq conflict; and if he will make a statement. [65646]
Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 14 January 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence today, Official Report, column 310.
Mr. Godsiff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Consul in Yemen has been allowed to see the fifth British national detained; and if he will make a statement on the role of the Foreign Office regarding the detention of the five British nationals. [66089]
Mr. Robin Cook:
Our Consul-General had access on 14 January to the fifth British detainee, Malek Nasser Harhara (to whom access has been denied on the grounds that he is a Yemen/British dual national). Mr. Harhara said that he was in satisfactory health and had not been physically abused.
The Consul-General had called on three of the detainees on 8 January. All three looked in reasonable condition. Of these, one detainee, Sarnad Ahmed, said that he had been tortured in the week after his arrest on 24 December 1998, but that his treatment had improved since then. The Consul-General reported that he appeared now to be in good health.
I made clear to the Yemeni Prime Minister on 11 January my concern about the allegation of torture. Dr. Iryani said that only one of the detainees had complained. He had investigated the issue personally. If the claim were found to be true, whoever was responsible would be prosecuted. Dr. Iryani assured me that the detainees would be properly treated.
A second detainee, Shahid Butt, told our Consul-General that, in the week since his arrest of 24 December 1998, he had been hit once or twice and slapped, and made to sign a paper. The Consul-General reported that he looked fit and well. He complained that there was no light in his cell at night and that he could not go to the toilet when he asked, and about the number of mosquitoes.
The third detainee, Gulam Hussain, looked in good condition. The Consul-General checked carefully that he had no problems with his back or with his asthma, two pre-existing medical conditions.
On 9 January 1999, the Consul-General saw Mohssin Ghailan, another of the detainees. He said that his treatment was now normal. He added that he had been slapped in the week after his arrest, but not since then. Mohssin also said that he was concerned about a possible liver problem, and was in some pain. The Consul-General noticed that his skin was yellowish, but could not judge the significance, not knowing his normal complexion.
Our Consul-General made representations, on behalf of the detainees whom he saw, which resulted in the provision of reading material, washing material, extra
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food, greater freedom within prison and greater access to the toilet. He also received an assurance of medical treatment for Mohssin Ghailan.
I spoke again to the Prime Minister of Yemen on 14 January 1999. I welcomed the fact that we had had access to Mr. Harhara. I repeated my concern that all the detainees should be charged or released. I also pressed for access to the detainees for their defence lawyer, and for an independent doctor. Dr. Iryani took note, and undertook to work for a positive response to these requests.
Since then, the lawyer representing the detainees, Mr. Basunaid, has informed us that charges have been laid. The detainees have been charged with association with armed groups planning to commit murder, explosions and destruction and with the possession of weapons, under Article 133 of the Yemeni Penal Code. The case is, therefore, sub judice.
Our Ambassador and Consul-General continue to press for access to the detainees for Mr. Basunaid and for an independent doctor. They are also pressing for further consular visits, including to Mr. Harhara, and for transfer to the central prison in Aden where conditions are better. Mr. Basunaid has, however, been told by the Yemeni authorities that he must await the end of the Eid holiday before seeing his clients.
The Embassy and Mr. Basunaid are in close touch about all issues relating to the case, including about the allegations that the detainees may have been forced to confess. In the light of our contacts with Mr. Basunaid, we will consider whether to make representations to the Yemeni authorities about the conduct of the investigation.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bilateral discussions there have been between the Belgian and UK Governments concerning evidence being given by Mr. Stephen Kock, Colonel Hardy, Colonel Jack and Mr. Blane to the Belgian inquiry into the death of Mr. Gerald Bull. [65147]
Ms Quin:
None. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my predecessor, the then Minister with responsibility for Europe, my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson), to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Mr. Cohen) on 21 May 1998, Official Report, column 528.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice Her Majesty's Government have given since 1989 to former directors of ASTRA about giving evidence to the Belgian police on the death of Mr. Gerald Bull. [65148]
Ms Quin:
No such advice has been given.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Belgian Government on arrangements for cooperation over the Belgian Government's inquiry into the murder of Mr. Gerald Bull. [65146]
Ms Quin:
There have been no such discussions.
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