| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Somalia
Mr. Gorrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's position regarding the current situation in Somalia. [88591]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: The United Kingdom supports the efforts of the Inter Governmental Authority on Development and the Standing Committee on Somalia to bring an inclusive, negotiated settlement to the civil war in Somalia.
But the main responsibility for achieving national reconciliation and for restoring peace rests with the Somali people themselves. A serious demonstration is now required by faction leaders and tribal elders of their commitment to the reconciliation process.
MOX Shipments
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor) of 22 June 1999, Official Report, column 928, what the basis was for the Minister of State's statement that it would require a complex and highly specialised piece of equipment, plant and skills to separate plutonium from MOX fuel. [88654]
Mr. Hoon:
The Minister of State's statement was based on the advice of the Government's technical experts in the UK Safeguards Office.
29 Jun 1999 : Column: 117
Ms Ward:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of immigration cases required the production of DNA tests to prove family relationships in each of the last three years. [88220]
Mr. Hoon:
DNA testing is used only in determining settlement applications. The statistics requested are as follows:
| Year | Settlement cases | DNA tests commissioned | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 40,524 | 2,078 | 5.1 |
| 1997 | 48,149 | 1,743 | 3.6 |
| 1998 | 53,483 | 32,310 | 6.0 |
Details of the number of tests commissioned by individual posts can be obtained from the summary of entry clearance statistics, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. The 1998 statistics are being printed and are scheduled to be placed in the House Library within the next two weeks.
Sudan
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the violation of ceasefire in February in Twic County, southern Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [88344]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 28 June 1999]: We received a number of reports from NGOs of raiders making attacks in Twic County in February. These were taken up within the framework of Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS).
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Sudan's treatment of (a) Christians, (b) Animists and (c) Muslims in relation to the UN Commission on Human Rights' Resolution 1999/5 on Sudan. [88342]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 28 June 1999]: The UN Commission on Human Rights resolution on Sudan this year expressed its deep concern at the continuing serious violations of human rights, fundamental freedoms and relevant provisions of international humanitarian law perpetrated by all parties to the conflict.
This was an EU sponsored consensus resolution. It has our full support.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the United Nations concerning the National Islamic Front's bombing of southern Sudan during Christian festivals. [88412]
Mr. Hoon
[holding answer 28 June 1999]: The EU sponsored consensus resolution at this year's United Nations Commission on Human Rights calls upon the Government of Sudan to stop immediately the indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilian targets.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how Her Majesty's Government, in consultation with its IGAD partners, intends to monitor ceasefire declarations in Sudan. [88343]
29 Jun 1999 : Column: 118
Mr. Hoon
[holding answer 28 June 1999]: While there continues to be a limited ceasefire in Bahr el Ghazal, we continue to call for a comprehensive ceasefire throughout Sudan. The monitoring of such a ceasefire will need to be agreed within the context of the IGAD talks, the next round of which we hope to see start in Nairobi on 19 July.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the work of East European Partnerships in Russia. [88013]
Clare Short:
We currently provide substantial support for Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), part of which is used to fund VSO's East European Partnership programme. The programme in Russia responds to requests for volunteers from a variety of different sectors. At any one time there can be between 15 to 20 volunteers, mainly working with public authorities and supporting the health and social welfare sectors in the Urals area, with some support for the development of children's shelters in the Moscow area.
Churches and Monuments (VAT)
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of exempting churches and national monuments from the requirement to pay VAT on restoration work. [88791]
Mr. Alan Howarth: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recognises that VAT on repairs to churches and historic buildings is an unwelcome additional cost to the careful conservation of such buildings. There is no zero-rate available under EC law. Current European legislation permits the introduction of reduced rates of VAT only for goods and services specified in Annex H to the Sixth VAT Directive. Repairs to historic buildings and churches do not feature in Annex H and so the Government legally cannot introduce a reduced rate.
Sports Cabinet
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will add representatives from the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Employment to the Sports Cabinet. [88498]
Mr. Chris Smith: The Sports Cabinet, which I chair, brings together the Sports Ministers of the four parts of the United Kingdom and others who are closely involved in the development of sport at an elite level and the achievement of excellence. It provides for a collective political discussion of the most strategic priorities for UK sport.
To assist us in the consideration of policy, the Sports Cabinet will also from time to time draw on a pool of independent figures to provide expert advice on particular issues. This could include non-executive members of the
29 Jun 1999 : Column: 119
UK Sports Council, prominent sports representatives and also Ministers or officials from affected Government departments.
The Ministers with responsibilities which affect sport in England also keep in close touch, and will continue to do so.
Kosovo
9. Mr. Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the impact of the conflict in Kosovo on public services in Scotland. [87522]
Mr. Macdonald: Local authorities and the NHS have provided a range of services to meet the needs of the Kosovan refugees who have come to Scotland for care as part of the Evacuation Programme. Local authorities and the voluntary sector are being reimbursed for additional costs incurred. The Scottish Refugee Council and the local authorities involved are to be congratulated for the splendid way in which they are handling this difficult situation.
Draft Concordats
11. Mr. Swinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had concerning draft concordats between United Kingdom Departments and the Scottish Parliament. [87524]
Dr. Reid: The UK Government intend proposing a range of concordats. These will guide working relations between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive.
Further and Higher Education
12. Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to increase access to Further and Higher Education. [87525]
Dr. Reid: In Further Education, an extra £100 million over the next three years will enable 40,000 more students from under-represented groups to participate.
In Higher Education, we have earmarked £60 million for widening access to disadvantaged students. Low income and disabled people will be helped to study part-time.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
13. Mr. Savidge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will investigate possible solutions to traffic congestion problems in the Aberdeen area. [87526]
Mr. Macdonald:
Traffic management in the Aberdeen area is primarily the responsibility of Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils. I fully expect that they will address congestion problems in their interim Local Transport Strategies, which are due to be submitted to the Scottish Executive next month.
29 Jun 1999 : Column: 120
We provided in March a further £4 million from the Public Transport Fund for park and ride and bus priority measures on the A956 and A96.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |