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Vehicle Excise Duty

Mr. John M. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the levels of vehicle excise duty are for 40 tonne lorries in other EU countries in 1999-2000. [91117]

Ms Glenda Jackson: The Government do not hold this information. However, the Department has recently commissioned research on lorry VED rates for the EC member states.

Correspondence

Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average time for a substantive reply to be sent to hon. Members' correspondence; what proportion takes more than (a) four weeks, (b) six weeks and (c) eight weeks; and what is his estimate of the number of letters received in a year from hon. Members. [92448]

Mr. Meale: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) on 11 June 1999, Official Report, columns 403-06, which sets out performance against departmental targets for answering correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members in the 1998 calendar year. More detailed information about the percentage of correspondence replied to within the time scales specified could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Correspondence

Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the average time for a substantive reply to be sent to hon. Members' correspondence; what proportion takes more than (a) four weeks, (b) six weeks and (c) eight weeks; and what is her estimate of the number of letters received in a year from hon. Members. [92447]

Mr. Foulkes: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) on 11 June 1999, Official Report, columns 403-06, which sets out performance against departmental targets for answering correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members, in the 1998 calendar year. More detailed information about the percentage of correspondence replied to within the time scales specified could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

European Union Council

Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for August and list the major European Union events for the next six months. [93021]

22 Jul 1999 : Column: 601

Ms Quin:

















































22 Jul 1999 : Column: 602


    23 Brussels Culture/Audiovisual Council


    23 Brussels Youth Council


    25-26 Brussels Budget Council


    26 Brussels Education Council


    29 Brussels ECOFIN


    29 Brussels Labour and Social Affairs Council


    30 Brussels Telecommunications Council


    December 1999


    1-2 Brussels European Parliament Plenary


    2 Brussels Energy Council


    2 Brussels Research Council


    2-3 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council


    6-7 Brussels General Affairs Council


    7 Brussels Internal Market Council


    9-10 Brussels Transport Council


    10-11 Helsinki European Council


    13 Brussels ECOFIN


    13-14 Brussels Environment Council


    13-17 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary


    14-15 Brussels Agriculture Council


    16-17 Brussels Fisheries Council


    16-17 Brussels EU-ACP Council (possible)


    January 2000


    14 Brussels Fisheries Council


    18 Brussels Budget Council


    24-25 Brussels General Affairs Council


    24-25 Brussels Agriculture Council


    28-29 Brussels Development Council (Informal)


    31 Brussels ECOFIN.

Hong Kong

Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to publish the fifth of the reports to Parliament on Hong Kong and the implementation of the Joint Declaration. [93022]

Mr. Hoon: The fifth report in this series, covering the period January-June 1999, was published today and a copy of the report has been placed in the Library. The report includes a foreword written by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. I commend the report to the House.

Human Rights

Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to publish the Annual Report on Human Rights. [93023]

Mr. Tony Lloyd: The second Annual Report on Human Rights has been laid before the House as Command Paper 4404 today. Copies of the Report have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Greece (Military Agreements)

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Greek Government on their military agreement with Armenia and Iran. [90433]

22 Jul 1999 : Column: 603

Ms Quin: None. The recent tripartite talks between Greece, Iran and Armenia form part of an on-going dialogue begun in 1995, focusing on co-operation in the energy, tourism, industry and communications sectors. There is no defence co-operation agreement.

Kosovar Albanians

Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of Kosovar Albanians imprisoned in Serbia; and if he will make a statement. [91230]

Mr. Tony Lloyd: There have been unconfirmed reports of up to 5,000 people from Kosovo detained in Serbia. The ICRC has a list of around 2,000, and has visited over 300 prisoners in the past few days. I hope that Belgrade will co-operate fully with the ICRC and that any prisoners not legitimately held can be released immediately.

Ocalan Trial

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the conduct of the Ocalan trial, with particular reference to international standards; and if he will make a statement. [91907]

Ms Quin: We are aware of the observations of 21 June by members of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly that the conduct of the trial was correct and in accordance with the applicable Turkish law. We are also aware of the concerns raised by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights with regard to the treatment of Mr. Ocalan's lawyers. We understand that an appeal is now pending. It is in the first place for the Appeal Court to review the outcome of the trial. We will continue to monitor closely the appeal proceedings.

We have made clear to the Turkish authorities the importance we attach to all proceedings being transparent and conducted in accordance with due process. We have also reiterated on numerous occasions our opposition as a matter of principle to the use of the death penalty.


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