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EU Budget Contribution
Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the UK's contribution to the EU for the last year for which figures are available. [78373]
Ms Quin [holding answer 23 March 1999]: The European Commission's report of 7 October 1998 called "Financing the European Union", a copy of which was deposited on 26 October (Batch list 121), contains Member States' payments into the EU budget from 1992-99, although the figures for 1998 and 1999 are estimates. The payments are listed by type; Traditional own resources (customs duties, agriculture duties, sugar levies less collection costs), VAT, GNP and the adjustment made to other Member States' contributions to fund the UK abatement. UK 1995-97 average contributions were:
| £ million | Euro million | |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Own Resources | 1,929.6 | 2,807.6 |
| VAT Own Resource | 3,700.7 | 5,384.5 |
| GNP Own Resource | 1,991.8 | 2,898.1 |
| Abatement | -1,574.4 | -2,290.7 |
| Total | 6,047.7 | 8,799.5 |
| The average net contribution (net of receipts) was: | 1,957.4 | 2,848 |
Millennium Compliance
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason no external assessment has been made of the plans of his Department for millennium compliance. [78466]
Mr. Fatchett: At present I am content to rely on the robustness and independence of our own Internal Audit team. They have just completed an examination of our compliance programme. We have taken on board the lessons they have flagged up. If, however, we feel that there is a need for external assessment, we shall arrange one.
European Commissioners
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which European Union institution will be responsible for controlling the payments to the retiring commissioners when they leave office; what plans he has to meet those who are to make those payments; and if he will make a statement. [78202]
Ms Quin: Commissioners' terms and conditions are set down in the 1967 Council Regulation 422/67. This governs transitional and pension payments following their retirement or resignation from the Commission.
Payments following a Commissioner's departure are paid by the Commission.
We expect out-going Commissioners to be treated in accordance with this Statute. I have no plans to meet the Commission to discuss these arrangements.
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Mr. Alan Johnson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the murder of civilians in Waterloo, Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [78323]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We have no precise figure for the number of civilian deaths in Waterloo. We believe that between 3,000 and 5,000 persons were killed during the rebel attack on Freetown in January, and that many of them had fled initially from Waterloo.
The Nigerian-led West African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG, succeeded in expelling the rebels from Waterloo on 24 February. In Waterloo, we understand that the rebels murdered some civilians and committed other atrocities; the rebels destroyed much of the town's infrastructure. Our High Commissioner in Freetown visited Waterloo on 6-7 March, and reported evidence of heavy fighting and widespread destruction.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of developments in Sierra Leone following the most recent reports of atrocities by rebel troops. [78421]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The situation in Freetown is improving, but remains volatile. The picture in the rest of the country is unclear, due to difficulties of access. Rebels are believed to be active in large areas of the north and east; for example, heavy fighting has recently been reported around Kambia, near the border with Guinea. We condemn the appalling atrocities, murder and destruction committed by the rebels. We continue to support strongly the democratically elected Government of Sierra Leone and the efforts of the Nigerian-led West African peacekeeping force, ECOMOG, to protect the civilian population. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's announcement on 2 March of a new £10 million package of assistance for Sierra Leone is further evidence of that commitment.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer to the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) of 16 March 1999, Official Report, column 868, on Spain, what is the legal basis for his statement that no country has a veto on a United Kingdom application to join in arrangements made under the Schengen agreement. [78399]
Ms Quin:
Under Article 5 of the Protocol integrating the Schengen acquis into the framework of the European Union, the United Kingdom will be free to participate in any future Schengen-based co-operation. Under Article 4 of that Protocol, it is only in respect of existing Schengen provisions (the "Schengen acquis") that a request by the United Kingdom to take part will be subject to the unanimous approval of the thirteen Schengen States.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the agenda for the forthcoming Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers meeting of 29 and 30 March. [78394]
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Mr. Fatchett:
The Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Berlin on 28-29 March 1999 will discuss regional and international issues of common interest. It will also review progress on the wide range of ASEM initiatives promoting economic, social, environmental, cultural and law enforcement co-operation, particularly those initiatives endorsed by Leaders at the Second Asia-Europe Meeting in London on 3-4 April 1998. Publication of the formal agenda is a matter for the German Federal Government as host of the meeting.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he made and on what dates to the head of the European Socialist party concerning the January motions of no confidence in the European Parliament on fraud and the Commission; and if he will make a statement. [78397]
Ms Quin:
It is not the practice for members of the Government to give details of party political discussions in this manner.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Rambouillet negotiations. [77754]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
I refer my hon. Friend to the Statement on Kosovo made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 23 March 1999, Official Report, columns 161-63.
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the human rights situation in Russia. [78382]
Ms Quin:
Russia has made progress towards the rule of law and democracy. But we remain concerned about anti-semitism; the law on religion; prison conditions; and the cases of the environmentalists Nikitin and Pasko, among other issues. We raise our concerns frequently with the Russians. The Foreign Secretary did so most recently during his visit to Russia on 3 to 5 March. We also hold annual talks with the Russians on human rights.
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the human rights situation in Moldova. [78383]
Ms Quin:
Moldova enjoys a working, multi-party democracy. International observers regarded the 1998 parliamentary elections as free and fair. There have been no reports of politically motivated killings or disappearances or torture of prisoners by the authorities. There are occasional instances of police cruelty and prisons are generally overcrowded. The Constitution and the law provide for freedom of expression though it is forbidden to publish views which question the country's independence, sovereignty or territorial integrity. The law makes it easy for public figures to launch defamation suits which can lead to self-censorship by journalists. The Constitution provides for judicial independence though in
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practice the Prosecutor's Office has too much influence over the judiciary. Religious freedom, the right of assembly, freedom of movement and academic freedom are all respected.
In the separatist region of Transdniestria, there are reports of serious human rights abuses (including torture, police cruelty, questionable detentions, pressure on the media and discrimination against use of the Roman alphabet).
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the human rights situation in Bulgaria. [78386]
Ms Quin:
The Government believe that Bulgaria has made good progress on human rights in recent years. Positive developments in the past few months include the abolition of the death penalty and the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Further progress is needed, however, on the implementation at local level of human rights legislation.
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