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Single Currency
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much expenditure his Department has (a) incurred to date and (b) forecast to be incurred, on preparations for possible United Kingdom entry into the European single currency; and if he will make a statement. [91089]
Dr. Jack Cunningham: Following the publication of the Government's Outline National Changeover Plan my Department is considering what preparations may be necessary.
PRIME MINISTER
Engagements
Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 14 July. [89793]
The Prime Minister: This morning I had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I will have further such meetings later today.
EU Meetings
Mr. Norman: To ask the Prime Minister whether he will list the meetings which have taken place in the last month between his adviser on European affairs and EU ambassadors; and for each meeting, if he will list those who accompanied him, and specify the purpose of the meetings. [90121]
The Prime Minister: A number of civil servants and special advisers in my office provide me with information and advice on European matters. In the past month, in addition to attending the meetings I hold with EU ambassadors, my advisers have had bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest with the Danish and Spanish ambassadors. There was also a meeting with the Swedish Ambassador to discuss the situation in Kosovo.
Arms Exports (Eritrea)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Government's response to the involvement of a British company in an arms consignment destined for Eritrea, seized at Antwerp on 7 February; what assistance has been supplied (a) to that company and (b) to the national authorities involved; and what changes to departmental procedures have resulted. [86643]
The Prime Minister:
We have no information on the seizure of an arms consignment on 7 February in Antwerp. But we are aware that a shipment of goods originating in Germany, destined for Eritrea, was seized by Belgian Customs authorities in Antwerp in August 1998. The Belgian Embassy in London notified us in November 1998 that a British company was involved in organising the shipment. The matter is currently before the Belgian courts.
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The British company, JMT Charlesworth Ltd., applied in 1997 for a DTI-funded Export Marketing Research Scheme grant. The grants are open to British companies with less than 500 employees wishing to research specific overseas markets and are payable after the work has been successfully completed. This was a legitimate request and the company received a grant of just over £1,000 following their study of the market for used, refurbished trucks for sale to Eritrea and Ethiopia. Since the seizure of the shipment the company has received no assistance from the British Government.
In line with our ethical foreign policy we supported UN Security Council Resolution 1227 of 10 February 1999 which demanded a cessation of hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea and called for a voluntary arms embargo. We announced on 15 February that the United Kingdom had implemented this arms embargo. We were also instrumental in the adoption by the European Union of a common position on 15 March 1999 implementing an EU arms embargo on Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those countries held by the Government to be in breach of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. [90920]
The Prime Minister:
While the Universal Declaration was not itself a legally binding treaty, it set the framework for human rights obligations in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESR). The ICCPR has been ratified by 143 states and the ICESR by 141 states. The UK ratified both these Treaties within 7 months of their coming into force in 1976. UN independent expert committees monitor the performance of individual states under these Treaties. The committees report their findings publicly, including failures of implementation. But neither they nor we attempt comparative assessments on what are wide ranging obligations.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the discussions held by his advisers in South Africa in January on the issue of reconciliation; which policy advisers were involved; whom they met; what topics of United Kingdom interest were discussed; and what policy changes ensued. [90943]
The Prime Minister:
I was accompanied by the Head of my Policy Unit and my policy advisers on criminal justice, and health and local government. As part of the ongoing and wide-ranging dialogue between the United Kingdom and South Africa, my advisers, together with FCO officials, had discussions with advisers in the Deputy President's office. These discussions, which took place in the run up to the recent elections, focused on the challenges facing an incoming Administration committed to a reforming agenda.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those civil wars since May 1997 in which
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he (a) made a decision to intervene and (b) decided against intervention; and if he will list the nature of the military intervention in each case. [90921]
The Prime Minister:
Preventing and resolving violent conflict, including internal conflict, is a key foreign policy objective for this Government. Since May 1997 we have worked actively with our partners in the Security Council, European Union and elsewhere to find diplomatic solutions to conflicts around the world. Militarily, we have taken action with our NATO partners in Kosovo to prevent an overwhelming humanitarian catastrophe; and with the United States in Iraq to prevent repression of the civilian population and Iraq's posing a threat to its neighbours. We currently have troops deployed to UN authorised or led peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Cyprus, Georgia, East Timor and on the Iraq/Kuwait border.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress made with putting into effect the Government policies set out in the Queen's Speeches in 1997 and 1998 [90869]
The Prime Minister:
Fifty-two Government bills became law in the 1997-98 parliamentary Session, including those to raise standards in education, delivering our manifesto commitment on constitutional reform, tackling crime, ensuring economic stability through Bank of England independence, and ensuring fairness at work through measures such as the national minimum wage.
In the 1998 Queen's speech we undertook to bring forward legislation on a wide range of issues including modernising the National Health Service, delivering on our pledge to modernise the youth justice system, and through our welfare reform programme. Ten bills have reached Royal Assent and a further 18 are on course to do so before the end of the Session.
The Government's Annual Report will be published towards the end of this month and this will detail progress on the Government's entire programme as set out in the manifesto. The Report will also set out what the Government's priorities are for the coming years.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the proposed appointments to the European Commission; and if he will list the experience and expertise of each nominated commissioner which is relevant to their portfolio. [91172]
The Prime Minister:
Mr. Prodi announced on 9 July the people he and member states intended to nominate as Commissioners and their proposed areas of responsibility. The nominees will now be put to the European Parliament for approval, most probably at its September plenary.
It is not for any Government to comment on other member states' nominees. The two British candidates are both extremely well suited to the posts for which they have been nominated.
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Dr. George Turner:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the members of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments; and if he will make a statement. [91667]
The Prime Minister:
Sadly, Lord Gillmore of Thamesfield, who became Chairman of the Committee in February, died shortly after taking up his appointment.
Lord Mayhew has agreed to become the new Chairman, and I intend to appoint shortly a new member of the Committee to fill the vacancy left by Lord Gillmore.
The current membership of the Committee is as follows:
The right hon. Lord Mayhew of Twysden QC--(Chairman)
Sir John Blelloch KCB--(Vice-chairman)
The right hon. Lord Shore of Stepney
The right hon. Baroness Williams of Crosby
Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton GBE, KCB, FEng, FIEE
Sir Denys Henderson
Sir Bryan Nicholson.
All the appointments are unpaid, and I am grateful to the members for the time they give to the Committee.
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