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Duma Elections
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to provide monitors from the United Kingdom of the Russian Federation's Duma elections on 19 December. [96331]
Mr. Vaz: We are currently making plans to send a delegation of 35 short-term observers and three long-term observers to monitor the Duma elections. This delegation makes up roughly 10 per cent. of the monitoring mission organised by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Ukraine Elections
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will monitor the elections in the Ukraine on 31 October from the United Kingdom. [96330]
Mr. Vaz:
At the invitation of the Ukrainian Government, an official election monitoring mission is being carried out by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. We have funded the Head and Deputy Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission. In addition, we have funded the participation of two long-term and 20 short-term monitors for the first round of voting on 31 October. The United Kingdom will fund the continued participation of 11 monitors in the event of a second round of voting. Around 10 members of the British Embassy in Kiev, as well as visiting staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, are also accredited as official election monitors and will coordinate their activities with the OSCE/ODIHR Mission. My hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Ms Jones) will participate in monitoring as a member of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
1 Nov 1999 : Column: 34
Mr. Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to ensure that companies involved in the production of genetically modified foods do not disadvantage farmers in the world's poorest countries; and if he will make a statement. [96604]
Mr. Hain:
We wish to see the benefits available from genetic modification spread equitably, in ways that support sustainable development, help to eliminate poverty, and do not pose unacceptable risks to health or the environment. We are working to develop appropriate international frameworks: in particular to agree a Biosafety Protocol regulating movements of living modified organisms; and to promote an internationally agreed Code of Responsible Behaviour in the development, testing and release of GMOs. The Department for International Development has published a briefing document setting out how it reflects these aims in the support it provides for sustainable agriculture in developing countries.
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were recruited to full-time membership of the RUC for the calendar years 1996, 1997 and 1998; what was the perceived religious/community origin of the intake in each year; and what percentage of the intake each year had previously served as members of (a) the RUC Reserve and (b) HM armed forces. [94658]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 19 October 1999]: The following table shows the number of recruits to the RUC for the years 1996, 1997 and 1998, their perceived religious/community origin and the percentage previously members of the RUC Reserve. It has not been possible within the timescales to show the number who previously had served in HM Forces but this information will be sent to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
| Year | Perceived Protestant | Perceived Roman Catholic | Not known | Total | Percentage formally RUCR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 172 | 36 | 18 | 226 | 45 |
| 1997 | 242 | 28 | 17 | 287 | 51 |
| 1998 | 140 | 22 | 17 | 179 | 39 |
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the staffing levels of the RUC in September (i) in total and (ii) broken down by (a) gender, (b) perceived religious/community origin and (c) numbers and percentages of full-time, reserve full-time and reserve part-time staff; and what were the changes in composition over the past five years. [94656]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 19 October 1999]: The tables show the staffing levels of the RUC in September 1999 and 1994 broken down by perceived religious/community origin and gender.
1 Nov 1999 : Column: 35
| Staff | Male | Female | Percentage female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulars | 7,533 | 992 | 11.64 |
| Full-time Reserve | 2,544 | 252 | 9.01 |
| Part-time Reserve | 775 | 418 | 35.04 |
| Total | 10,852 | 1,662 | 13.28 |
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| Staff | Male | Female | Percentage female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulars | 7,640 | 854 | 10.05 |
| Full-time Reserve | 3,054 | 143 | 4.47 |
| Part-time Reserve | 995 | 495 | 33.22 |
| Total | 11,689 | 1,492 | 11.32 |
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Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in each rank in order the numbers and perceived religious/community origin of RUC officers. [94659]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 19 October 1999]: The following table shows the number of officers in the RUC by rank and perceived religious/community origin:
| Rank | Perceived Protestant | Perceived Roman Catholic | Not known | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Officers | 8 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Chief Superintendent | 33 | 6 | 0 | 39 |
| Superintendent | 102 | 21 | 2 | 125 |
| Chief Inspector | 154 | 15 | 4 | 173 |
| Inspector | 430 | 53 | 15 | 498 |
| Sergeant | 1,262 | 113 | 24 | 1,399 |
| Constable | 5,526 | 507 | 238 | 6,271 |
| Total | 7,515 | 715 | 285 | 8,515 |
| Full-time reserve | 2,414 | 191 | 157 | 2,762 |
| Part-time reserve | 1,115 | 57 | 15 | 1,187 |
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Threats (Antrim)
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reports he has received about threats made to a woman and her husband that forced them to leave the Antrim area on 23 May; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of these threats; what is the present stage of the police investigation. [94490]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 19 October 1999]: I am advised that there is insufficient detail in this question for the police to accurately check their records. Perhaps my hon. Friend can provide me with more precise information.
Stone Throwing Attacks
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the RUC took following the stone-throwing attack on an East Antrim councillor on 18 May; what injuries were caused in the course of this attack; what conclusions have been reached so far as to the perpetrators of the attack; what other attacks took place in that area at that time; and what is the present stage of the police investigation. [94486]
1 Nov 1999 : Column: 37
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 19 October 1999]: I am advised that there is insufficient detail in this question for the police to accurately check their records. Perhaps my hon. Friend can provide me with more precise information.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list in order of their publication dates in the last calendar year those public bodies that are required to lay their annual report and accounts before the House and indicate those reports that are available through the Vote Office. [94655]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 19 October 1999]: The information for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments for the 1998 calendar year is as follows:
| Public body | Publication date |
|---|---|
| Probation Board for Northern Ireland | 2 April 1998 |
| Independent Commission for Police Complaints | 28 April 1998 |
| Fisheries Conservancy Board | 6 July 1998 |
| Northern Ireland Health & Social Services Estates Agency | 20 July 1998 |
| Social Security Agency | 21 July 1998 |
| Industrial Research & Technology Unit | 23 July 1998 |
| Compensation Agency | 27 July 1998 |
| Child Support Agency | 29 July 1998 |
| Training & Employment Agency | 29 July 1998 |
| Foyle Fisheries Commission | 4 August 1998 |
| Equal Opportunities Commission (Northern Ireland) | 15 October 1998 |
| Commission for Racial Equality (Northern Ireland) | 22 October 1998 |
| National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Northern Ireland | 27 October 1998 |
| Fair Employment Commission (Northern Ireland) | 5 November 1998 |
| Education and Library Boards | 18 November 1998 |
| Arts Council (Lottery activities) | 20 November 1998 |
| Sports Council (Lottery activities) | 24 November 1998 |
| Police Authority for Northern Ireland | 30 November 1998 |
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