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Western European Union

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals have been made by the presidency of the European Union at (a) the General Affairs Council and (b) other ministerial councils concerning the development of the role of the Western European Union; on what date he expects the Treaty of Amsterdam to take effect; and if he will place related European Union and Western European Union documents in the Library. [78998]

Mr. Tony Lloyd: The Presidency of the European Union have made no formal proposals considering the development of the role of the Western European Union at the General Affairs Council or any other ministerial councils.

The Treaty of Amsterdam will enter into force once the last remaining countries, France and Greece, have deposited their instruments of ratification with the Italian Government. They are expected to do so shortly. If they do so before 15 April 1999, the Treaty will enter into force on 1 May 1999.

31 Mar 1999 : Column: 693

Foreign Ministers Conference

Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the agenda for the Euro-Med Foreign Ministers Conference on 15 to 16 April. [79576]

Ms Quin: The draft agenda is as follows:

Wednesday 15 April

Official Opening Session

Working Session 1

1.1 Contribution of the EuroMed Partnership to constructive developments in the Mediterranean Region

1.2 Political and Security Partnership

Friday 16 April

Working Session 2

2.1 EU Financial Assistance to MED Partners

2.2 Economic and Financial Partnership

2.3 Partnership in Social, Cultural and Human Affairs

Closing Session.

Mr. Clive Allison

Mr. Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 1 February 1999, Official Report, column 431, what discussions with French Ministers and officials (i) have taken place and (ii) are scheduled to take place concerning (a) the death of Mr. Clive Allison in May 1998 and the degree of co-operation with the British coroner in that case and (b) the degree of co-operation of French officials with British coroners. [79525]

Mr. Fatchett: On 30 November, Baroness Symons, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, met senior French officials of the Ministry of Interior to discuss the handling of deaths of British Nationals and to press for more vigorous investigations by the French authorities.

We have had no discussions with French Ministers specifically concerning the death of Clive Allison in France. Nor have Ministers discussed the degree of co-operation with British coroners in this case. No Ministerial discussions are scheduled to take place on either topic.

The Consular Division of the FCO forwarded HM Coroners's letter requesting a police report into Mr. Allison's death to the French authorities in June 1998. The French authorities issued a report which was passed to HM Coroner on 4 September. In a letter dated 5 October, HM Coroner requested more information regarding Mr. Allison's death. His request was translated and forwarded to the French authorities on 6 November. Our Consulate in Lyon continues to press for a response.

French officials have no direct contact with British Coroners. Requests from HM Coroner for reports into the death of a British national in France are directed to the French authorities through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Co-operation is good; the French authorities have to comply with their own formalities. Requests for supplementary information may take longer for the French to process.

31 Mar 1999 : Column: 694

Cornish

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a Department has been identified to co-ordinate policy on the Cornish language. [79890]

Mr. Tony Lloyd: It has now been agreed that the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, through the Government office for the south-west, should co-ordinate Government policy on the Cornish Language. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will retain overall responsibility for the Council of Europe's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

GJW

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which officials in his Department had discussions with GJW, on how many occasions and on what dates concerning the wish by Cape plc to amend the Access to Justice Bill [Lords] to ban foreign workers of British companies obtaining legal aid; and if the statement by his Department's officials that the decision to pursue the case in the UK courts would be seen as a lack of faith in the South African legal system was made with the knowledge of Ministers. [78745]

Mr. Tony Lloyd: No discussions have been held between the FCO and GJW on possible amendments to the Access to Justice Bill.

Telephone calls were received from an unidentified caller who asked about the case, but no opinion of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend was expressed by FCO officials.

This is not a foreign policy issue. It is a matter for the Lord Chancellor's Department. Inquiries on this issue have been referred to them.

Council of Europe (Membership)

Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries within the former Soviet Union are eligible in principle to be admitted to the Council of Europe by virtue of their geographical position. [79199]

Mr. Tony Lloyd: Countries within the former Soviet Union eligible in principle to be admitted to the Council of Europe are:

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Belarus, and

Georgia.

Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries formerly within the Soviet Union have applied for admission to the Council of Europe. [79198]

Mr. Tony Lloyd: Countries formerly within the Soviet Union which applied for membership of the Council of Europe and which are now members are: Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. Countries formerly within the Soviet Union which have applied but have yet to become members of the Council of Europe are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Georgia. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are also now members of the Council of Europe.

31 Mar 1999 : Column: 695

Gibraltar

Mr. Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 1999, Official Report, column 58, if he will make a statement on the measures which the Government of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission need to have in place before Her Majesty's Government will be in a position to approve the passporting by Gibraltar-based credit institutions of banking services into the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the European Union. [79442]

Ms Quin: The remaining measure which the Government of Gibraltar need to have in place before Her Majesty's Government will be in a position to approve passporting of banking services by the Gibraltar-based credit institutions is the establishment of a Deposit Guarantee Scheme. We understand that the necessary legislation has been passed by the Gibraltar House of Assembly and will enter into force shortly.

In addition, Her Majesty's Government will need to amend the Banking Act 1987 before Gibraltar-based credit institutions will be in a position to passport banking services into the United Kingdom.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the establishment of staff at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices at Croydon by civil service grade; and how many vacancies at each grade currently exist. [78797]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The following lists staff by grade employed at the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices in Croydon:

Grade	Number
Senior Civil Service Grades	13
Grade 6	5
Grade 7	43
Senior Executive Officer	50
Higher Executive Officer	169
HEO(D)	2
Executive Officer	455
Administrative Officer	91
Administrative Assistant	482
Immigration Inspector	6
Chief Immigration Officer	33
Immigration Officer	46
Assistant Immigration Officer	8
Senior Personal Secretary	3
Personal Secretary	27
Chief Typing Manager	1
Typing Manager	3
Typists	15
Support Manager	1
Support Grade 1	14
Support Grade 2	111
Industrials	8
Total	2,007

The following table lists current vacancies in Croydon. They are being filled through internal selection, including promotion boards, or external recruitment.

31 Mar 1999 : Column: 696

Grade	Number
Grade 7	2
SEO	1
HEO	15
EO	100
AO	65
AA	98

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average number of members of the public who attended the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices in Croydon per day in the last 12 months; and what is the average number of such persons interviewed by officials. [79298]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The average number of callers who attended the Immigration and Nationality Directorate offices per day during the 12 month period from March 1998 to February 1999 was:

Public Caller Unit (PCU): 673

Asylum Screening Unit: 362.

With the exception of the four days in March 1999 when the doors were closed early in the PCU as the result of a temporary problem, all callers to the PCU during this period were assisted by officials.

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