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MOX Fuel
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions since 15 December 1999 he, other Ministers and officials of his Department, have raised with Japanese Ministers and officials nuclear commerce and MOX plutonium exports to Japan; and if he will place in the Library copies of all correspondence since May 1997 he has had with Japanese Ministers or officials on MOX plutonium fuel. [112357]
Mr. Hain: Since 15 December, the only occasion when FCO Ministers have discussed nuclear commerce and MOX fuel exports with Japanese Ministers was on 12 January, when my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the Japanese Foreign Minister in London. There have been many occasions when these subjects have been raised between FCO and Japanese officials. These contacts are commonplace under the UK/Japan Nuclear Co-operation Agreement on the Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy.
I have not corresponded with Japanese Ministers or officials on MOX fuel since May 1997.
Nuclear Policy
Mr. Gapes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if the work of the
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Anglo-French Joint Commission on Nuclear Policy and Doctrine has led to adoption of joint positions with France in international bodies or forums; [112417]
(3) on how many occasions since 1992 officials of the French Government have visited his Department to discuss nuclear co-operation; and if he will make a statement; [112420]
(4) on how many occasions since 1992 officials from his Department have visited France to discuss nuclear co-operation; and if he will make a statement; [112419]
(5) if he will list the official discussions and meetings between Ministers and officials in his Department and their French counterparts since November 1995 to pursue the implementation of the 1995 Anglo-French Joint Statement on Nuclear Co-operation; [112418]
(6) what discussions involving Ministers and officials of his Department have recently taken place or are planned within the Anglo-French Joint Commission on Nuclear Policy and Doctrine concerning joint or co-ordinated nuclear missile submarine patrols with the French Navy. [112422]
Mr. Vaz:
British and French officials meet frequently to discuss nuclear issues of mutual interest. One powerful example of the co-operation which has resulted was the UK and France jointly depositing our instruments of ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in April 1998.
The UK/French Joint Nuclear Commission normally meets at official level every six months, alternately in London and paris. The Commission's discussions cover a wide range of issues, but they exclude, by joint agreement, the operational aspects of our respective deterrent forces. There are no plans for joint or co-ordinated submarine patrols.
I am withholding records of these meetings under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the European Commissioner, Mr. Javier Solana about the numbers of international police officers in Kosovo. [112485]
Mr. Hain:
The European Secretary General/High Representative, Mr. Javier Solana, appealed to EU Foreign Ministers at the beginning of February for more police officers for UNIP. This followed a request from the UN for additional police deployments, to which we have responded by doubling our contribution to the UN international police force in Kosovo.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations have been made to him by the head of UNMIK, about the numbers of international police officers in Kosovo; [112488]
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Mr. Hain:
The UK, along with its Quint, EU and G8 partners, is in regular contact with Secretary-General Annan and his Special Representative for Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, about all aspects of the international effort in Kosovo, including the need for more police officers. The UN Secretariat has made two requests for police officers, both of which the UK has been able to respond to positively, bringing the total number of UK police officers pledged to UNIP to 120.
Laura Moffatt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of difficulties experienced by former Pakistani politicians returning to Pakistan from the UK; and what monitoring the High Commission is carrying out. [112489]
Mr. Hain:
We are not aware of any problems faced by former Pakistani politicians returning to Pakistan from the UK. Our High Commission in Islamabad continues to follow closely all aspects of life in Pakistan, including the political scene.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the new public bodies established by his Department since May 1997. [112670]
Mr. Hain:
The annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies" provides information on a range of public bodies. The 1997 edition lists those public bodies in existence prior to May 1997. The 1998 and 1999 editions list public bodies in existence in subsequent years. Copies of these publications have been placed in the Library of the House. Copies are also available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango).
Since the publication of the 1999 edition of "Public Bodies", no new public bodies have been established. However the Commonwealth Institute has ceased to be a FCO non-departmental public body and is now an independent charity, as I announced to the house on 1 February 2000, Official Report, column 542W.
Mr. Syms:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the British Government have to raise the human rights situations in (a) China, (b) Mexico and (c) Burma at the forthcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. [112674]
Mr. Hain:
The information is as follows:
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Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the costs of GCHQ are met by the United States Government. [113119]
Mr. Robin Cook:
None of GCHQ's costs are met by the US Government.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors were taken into account in evaluating applications for export licences for arms to parties involved in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [112702]
Mr. Hain:
We uphold the EU arms embargo (imposed 7 April 1993), which prohibits the export of equipment on the Military List from the EU to the DRC. We are similarly upholding the UK sanctions on non- governmental forces in Rwanda, which also apply to the sale and supply of arms to neighbouring states if they are for use in Rwanda; and on UNITA rebels in Angola.
Since 28 July 1997, we have examined export licence applications to all destinations against the new criteria that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced that day, Official Report, columns 26-29W. In addition, we have also examined applications against the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Sales since it was agreed in June 1998.
The Prime Minister's reply to a question from the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) on 9 February 2000, Official Report, columns 184-85, set out the basis of our new tighter policy on arms sales to countries intervening in the DRC.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what involvement his Department has had recently in attempting to find a political solution to the problems of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. [112697]
Mr. Hain:
Britain is playing an active and constructive role in international efforts to resolve the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I represented Britain at January's Security Council meeting, which secured re-endorsement of the Lusaka Agreement and strong support for the deployment of a UN observer force. On 23 February, I chaired a meeting of UK Heads of Mission and US, French, Belgian and EU representatives in Nairobi to discuss the way forward in bringing peace to DRC. On 24 February, Britain supported the Security Council Resolution authorising a 5,500-strong observer force as the next phase of the UN mission.
Our aim now is to help all the parties implement the Lusaka Agreement; support the early deployment of the UN observer force as soon as conditions allow; get the national dialogue on the future governance of DRC under-way; and keep DRC on the international agenda.
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(2) what activities have been undertaken in the Anglo-French Joint Commission on Nuclear Policy and Doctrine since January 1998; and if he will place in the Library the (a) reports and (b) other documents produced by the Joint Commission since that date; [112421]
(2) what representations he has received from the UN Secretary-General about the numbers of international police officers in Kosovo. [112486]
China
We are at present discussing with our EU partners our policies on China at this years Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Burma
The UK, together with EU partners, will jointly table a strong resolution on Burma at CHR. The resolution will refer to the whole catalogue of human rights violations in Burma and call for the UN Special Rapporteur to be allowed access.
Mexico
We are committed to helping Mexico improve its human rights record. But where criticism is due, the UK will support a strong reference to Mexico in the EU omnibus country statement at the CHR.
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