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EMU
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will deposit in the Library a copy of the Wilton Park paper entitled Europe after Economic and Monetary Union; and if he will make a statement on his Department's assessment of political conclusions reached. [105587]
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Mr. Vaz:
There is no Wilton Park paper with that exact title. However two papers on the subject of EMU, summarising conferences held in October 1998 and May 1999, are available on Wilton Park website www.wiltonpark.org.uk.
Wilton Park brings together people of all viewpoints to discuss topical issues. Although its finances are underwritten by my Department, its academic independence is guaranteed. Its reports on EMU as on other subjects reflect the personal accounts of the chairman and rapporteur of the range of views expressed at its conferences. Government policy on EMU is clear. The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on EMU membership is whether the economic benefits from joining are clear and unambiguous.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the mission statement of the International Federation of Europe Houses; and if he will deposit in the library a list of (a) these Houses and (b) the activities of the Houses funded by the EU in 1999. [105790]
Mr. Vaz:
The aim of the International Federation of Europe Houses is to encourage debate among the citizens of Europe about the issue of European integration. The members of the Federation are independent bodies with structures and operating procedures which reflect the particular community, region, country and cultural sphere in which they operate.
A list of the Houses and the activities of the Houses in 1999 has been deposited in the Library.
The European Commission provides up to a maximum of 50 per cent. funding for individual projects.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to reduce smoking in his Department. [105801]
Mr. Hain:
We have in place a Health Promotion Strategy, based on the White Paper "Our Healthier Nation", and have signed up to the Healthy Workplace Initiative. The strategy includes a policy limiting smoking to designated areas and single occupancy offices. In response to the request by the Government White Paper "Smoking Kills", further restrictions to the smoking policy are under consideration.
We run a campaign on National No Smoking Day and also incorporate anti-smoking initiatives in regular health fairs. Advice on quitting smoking forms part of routine medical clearance procedures for employees (and spouses) going overseas and our doctors and nurses provide one-to-one and group support for individuals who want to quit smoking. Our health and safety team raise awareness about smoking on seminars for senior managers and on pre-posting training courses and we offer a range of information through our Healthline Library. Plans are in hand for a website which will be used to promote various health issues including anti-smoking initiatives.
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Mr. Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Argentine Government regarding access by the Stanley-registered schooner Golden Fleece to the port of Ushuaia; and if he will make a statement. [106077]
Mr. Battle:
We are aware of the paper which the owner of the Golden Fleece recently received from the port authorities in Ushuaia about entry by his vessel to Argentine ports. We have taken this incident up with the Argentine Government in Buenos Aires. I understand that these discussions are progressing satisfactorily. I hope that the matter can be resolved in a way that will not result in a recurrence of this type of incident. I shall write to my hon. Friend to update him on the outcome of our representations.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the basis of his statement that corpus juris was no longer on the agenda. [106400]
Mr. Vaz:
The idea of a European Public Prosecutor was discussed but not agreed at Tampere. The Corpus Juris package of proposals have never been formally tabled and were not subject to discussion.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of the EU Monitoring Centre on Xenophobia in formulating the Charter of Fundamental Rights. [106375]
Mr. Vaz:
It is open to individuals and organisations such as the EU Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia to contribute views on the Charter. The Charter drafting body consists only of representatives of member states, National Parliaments, the European Parliament and the Commission.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions exports notified as having been denied under the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports have been subsequently taken up by businesses from (i) other EU countries and (ii) non-EU countries. [106309]
Mr. Hain:
Operative Provision 3 of the EU Code of Conduct sets out the procedures to be followed by member states refusing licence applications and consulting other states about their notification of denial of a licence.
Operative Provision 4 of the EU Code of Conduct states that
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Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of his Department on the control of arms exports to combatants in the Great Lakes Region. [106385]
Mr. Hain:
Export licence applications for countries involved in the conflict in the Great Lakes region are considered on a case by case basis against our strict national criteria and those in the EU Code of Conduct.
Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement made by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Neath (Mr. Hain) on 18 January 2000, Official Report, columns 171-74WH, if it remains Her Majesty's Government's policy to retain a strategic nuclear deterrent as long as other countries possess nuclear weapons. [106132]
Mr. Vaz:
We pledged in our election manifesto to retain Trident as the ultimate guarantee of the United Kingdom's security while pressing for multilateral negotiations towards mutual, balanced and verifiable reductions in nuclear weapons.
When we are satisfied with progress towards our goal of the global elimination of nuclear weapons, we will ensure that British nuclear weapons are included in negotiations.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken since 12 October 1999 to seek a European Union embargo on the export of arms and dual-use goods to Pakistan. [106647]
Mr. Hain:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the coup in Pakistan with his EU colleagues at the European Council at Tampere on 15-16 October 1999 and at the General Affairs Council on 15 October 1999. EU Foreign Ministers considered a full range of options for further measures against the military regime.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the meeting on 8 December 1999 between officials of his Department and other departments at which the processing of strategic export licence applications for Pakistan was discussed. [106646]
Mr. Hain:
Minutes of internal discussions are not made public under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Hood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the export of a load handling system and container unit to Norwegian People's Aid in Kosovo. [106867]
Mr. Vaz:
We have granted a licence for the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of a Load Handling System and Container Unit for use by Norwegian People's Aid, an organisation engaged in humanitarian demining activities in Kosovo on behalf of
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the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). These goods are on the UK's Military List.
UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1160 imposed an arms embargo on the FRY. The only exception to this embargo is that in UNSCR 1244, which provides that prohibitions imposed by UNSCR 1160 shall not apply to the sale or supply of arms and related material for use by the international civil and security presence in Kosovo. We have notified the UN Sanctions Committee of this export and they have raised no objection. The export of the equipment required for demining purposes is not prohibited by the EU arms embargo.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the accommodation available for displaced and homeless Roma in Kosovo. [106098]
Mr. Vaz:
UNMIK have given urgent consideration to the needs of the Roma. Shelter for all of Kosovo's population has been a major concern for the international community working in Kosovo this winter.
A number of contingency measures have been taken to provide some form of protection for people who do not have access to shelter of their own. These include:
"Member States will keep such denials and consultations confidential and will not use them for commercial advantage".
These provisions effectively prevent member states from revealing business gained as a result of undercuts following EU Denials. We are not informed if non-EU countries take up business refused by EU member states.
500 prefabricated units set up in the Mitrovica, Pec and Decane districts;
8,000 places in heated collective accommodation identified;
the provision of up to 15,000 all-season tents and heating.
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