| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Serbia
Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of environmental damage caused by the war in Serbia, with particular reference to radioactive material. [91588]
Mr. George Robertson: No solid evidence has so far been presented of damage to the environment as a result of NATO's air campaign. The environmental effects of the conflict in Kosovo are to be assessed by a joint task force set up by the UN Environment Programme and the UN Commission on Human Settlements. The UK stands ready to co-operate with that task force.
TRIGAT Programme
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence If he will make a statement on the medium-range TRIGAT programme. [90199]
Mr. George Robertson:
I announced on 10 June that the UK intend to join the Industrialisation and Production phase of the Medium Range TRIGAT programme. The
19 Jul 1999 : Column: 430
UK, France and Germany have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering that stage of the programme. Subject to signature of the Memorandum of Understanding by the remaining partner nations, Belgium and the Netherlands, and satisfactory final negotiations with the Prime Contractor, Aerospatiale, we expect to place a contract for the Industrialisation and Production phase of the weapon system later this year.
Cabinet Joint Consultative Committee
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the CJCC he has attended. [89273]
Mr. Robin Cook: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 5 July 1999, Official Report, column 362.
MOX Fuel Shipments
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries whose Governments have made representations to his Department about the imminent shipment of MOX fuel to Japan; and which of those Governments have also requested meetings. [91144]
Mr. Hoon: To date, representations have been made by the Governments of New Zealand and the Republic of Korea about the forthcoming shipment of MOX fuel to Japan. A meeting with the New Zealand High Commissioner took place on 28 June.
Though no specific representations have been made by Caribbean states on the MOX shipment, a meeting with Commonwealth Caribbean High Commissioners to discuss the more general issue of the movement of nuclear material through the Caribbean Sea will be held on 21 July.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance has been issued to embassies overseas on issues related to the imminent shipment of MOX fuel to Japan; and if he will place copies in the Library. [91079]
Mr. Hoon:
Detailed guidance on the forthcoming MOX shipment has been provided to posts. As it includes confidential material for the information of governments along the possible routes, it would not be appropriate to place copies of it in the Library.
Industry guidance has also been supplied to posts. Copies of this will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to reassure other Governments that the shipment of MOX fuel is neither an environmental nor a proliferation risk. [91154]
Mr. Hoon:
Though under no obligation to do so, it has been our practice since 1996 to provide information in advance and on a confidential basis to coastal states, both on and off the route, on shipments of nuclear materials. This includes information on the internationally agreed physical protection measures in place to counter any
19 Jul 1999 : Column: 431
environmental or proliferation risk. We intend to continue with this practice in the case of the forthcoming MOX shipment.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the unclassified submissions made by his Department to the last two rounds of consultation on the proposed Sellafield MOX plant. [91078]
Mr. Hoon:
No submissions were made by my Department to the last two rounds of consultation on the proposed Sellafield MOX plant.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he made to the European Commission about delays at the border between Spain and Gibraltar (a) before and (b) after it became apparent that the Commission's decision on whether to take action would be further delayed. [91244]
Ms Quin:
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 14 July 1999, Official Report, column 256.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government concerning United Nations sanctions against Libya; and if he will make a statement. [91239]
Mr. Hoon:
We remain in close consultation with the Governments of the United States and Libya and the United Nations Secretary-General with a view to securing full Libyan compliance with the requirements of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. We welcome the progress to date, as set out in the Secretary-General's report to the UN Security Council last week. When the remaining requirements are met, the United Kingdom will support the lifting of UN sanctions against Libya, which are currently suspended.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Government of Indonesia concerning the referendum in East Timor. [91241]
Mr. Hoon:
We are in regular contact with the Indonesian Government about the UN supervised consultation in East Timor scheduled for August. We have emphasised that the Indonesian Government must fulfil their commitments to ensure a security situation in which a satisfactory consultation can take place.
Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Amnesty International about the situation in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement. [91690]
Mr. Hoon
[holding answer 16 July 1999]: We have studied Amnesty International's report, published earlier this year, on disappearances in Kashmir. We share the
19 Jul 1999 : Column: 432
concern expressed there over aspects of the human rights situation in Kashmir, while welcoming the steps the Indian Government have taken in recent years to improve human rights observance in India. We continue to condemn all human rights abuses, whether by militants or the security forces, and to encourage the Indian authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the state of the conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir; and if he will make a statement. [91691]
Mr. Hoon
[holding answer 16 July 1999]: We welcome the disengagement of infiltrators from their positions on the Indian side of the Line of Control, and India's suspension of airstrikes against them. We trust that the conditions for a complete cessation of fighting will soon be created, and that both sides will work to assure the integrity of the Line of Control. We continue to urge India and Pakistan to resume their bilateral dialogue on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, and hope for an early return to the process started at Lahore in February.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold an inquiry into the leaking of his Department's documents relating to Michael Ashcroft to the Press. [91938]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
An inquiry into the circumstances of the leak of protectively marked information to the press was instituted early on 13 July.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any of his special advisers prior to 13 July passed on to or discussed with a journalist the contents of documents referring to Michael Ashcroft. [91937]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
An inquiry was instituted on 13 July into the circumstances of the leak. We need to await the result of that inquiry.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any of his special advisers at any time prior to 13 July had access to, or were informed of, the contents of documents referring to Michael Ashcroft. [91936]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
An inquiry was instituted on 13 July into the circumstances of the leak. We need to await the result of that inquiry. The rules applying to Ministers as regards access to papers of a previous Administration also apply to special advisers.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |