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CABINET OFFICE
GM Technology
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent meetings the Government have held with representatives of the US Government on the subject of genetically modified technology. [113390]
Mr. Stringer: The Government have met representatives of the US Government on a number of occasions in order to discuss genetically modified technology as well as other issues. This forms part of the Government's ongoing dialogue with the US Government. The UK's commitment to a science-based approach to biotechnology which protects public health and the environment is made clear in all such discussions.
IT Projects
Mr. Ennis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Government will respond to the Public Accounts Committee report entitled "Improving the Delivery of Government: IT Projects"; and if she will make a statement. [115507]
Mr. Ian McCartney: The Government's formal response to the report was laid before the House today, as Command Paper 4656.
Earlier this year we announced a range of recommendations to drive up performance with major IT projects. The recommendations are already tackling many of the issues raised in the report.
These recommendations were set out in detail in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela Smith) of 21 February 2000, Official Report, column 739W. They include measures to address the role of Ministers in IT projects and to improve our management of IT suppliers.
These recommendations are the first of a series to implement best practice across Government and to ensure that the pillars that support successful IT projects are in place in the future.
16 Mar 2000 : Column: 286W
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of costs of the construction of the new GCHQ building and contents at Cheltenham are being met from non-UK Government sources. [114110]
Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 14 March 2000]: The cost of GCHQ's new accommodation falls to the UK Government. However, the provision of the new building will be met under a private finance initiative which means that the finance for the construction costs will be raised by the private sector.
Mr. McCabe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Kashmir. [114702]
Mr. Hain:
We are deeply concerned by the situation in Kashmir, including violent clashes across the line of control and denial of human rights, and we regularly raise this with the Indian and Pakistani authorities. In January the Foreign Secretary raised Kashmir with his Indian counterpart during talks in London. We have also condemned in the strongest terms externally sponsored terrorism. We hope that India and Pakistan will return to bilateral dialogue to find a solution to this and the other issues that divide them.
Mr. Gardiner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the evidence of HC 541-i, 3 November 1999 to the Defence and other Committees, what discussions he has had with the United Kingdom's European Union partners about an arms embargo on Pakistan. [114730]
Mr. Hain:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Mr. Cohen) on 24 January 2000, Official Report, column 36W.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list the main families in Kosovo dealing in heroin; [114923]
Mr. Battle:
We have no information about the number of persons apprehended in Kosovo for trafficking in heroin since police from NATO countries arrived. The UN have asked us to help set up a Criminal Intelligence Unit in Kosovo to provide information which can be used by law enforcement agencies to attack organised criminal activity, including drug trafficking.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, announced on 15 March that the UK would contribute 20 police and Customs officers to this Central Intelligence Unit.
16 Mar 2000 : Column: 287W
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many international policemen were promised by NATO countries for service in Kosovo; and how many have arrived. [114924]
Mr. Hain:
As of 1 March, figures provided by the United Nations Secretariat show that NATO member states have pledged 1,617 civilian police officers (49 per cent. of the total number pledged) to the United Nations International Police force in Kosovo. Of these, 1,184 have been deployed (50 per cent. of the total number deployed).
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons NATO expelled the 4 Unit of the Narcotics Squad of the Serb Army from Kosovo. [114922]
Mr. Vaz:
In accordance with the Military Technical Agreement between NATO and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) all FRY forces were required to withdraw from Kosovo to locations in Serbia outside Kosovo.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions since 1993 his (a) Department's officials, (b) Ministry of Defence personnel and (c) Ministers met Mr. Roger Crooks to discuss (i) the security situation in Sierra Leone and West Africa, (ii) the political situation in Sierra Leone and West Africa, (iii) the supplying of arms in Sierra Leone and West Africa, (iv) the supplying of military assistance and advisers in Sierra Leone and West Africa, (v) logistical support in Sierra Leone and West Africa; and if he will make a statement. [114968]
Mr. Hain:
Mr. Crooks, a US citizen with interests in Sierra Leone, has been known to various members of the High Commission for some time. He assisted in the evacuation of UK, US and other foreign nationals in 1997. He is refurbishing one of the main hotels in Freetown, to be used as the Headquarters of UNAMSIL. FCO and MOD personnel have had occasional contacts with him over the last few years. Discussions have focused on the general situation in Sierra Leone, not arms or military matters.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers will be attending the World Education Forum in Dakar. [114915]
Mr. Hain:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 7 March 2000, Official Report, column 563W.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 14 January 2000, Official Report, column 221W, on British Overseas Territories, what plans his Department has to introduce an order in council to ensure that the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands change their existing legislation on homosexual acts. [114774]
16 Mar 2000 : Column: 288W
Mr. Battle:
In keeping with the new relationship based on partnership, Britain preferred that the Overseas Territories should enact the necessary human right reforms themselves. The relevant territories were forewarned that progress would be reviewed by the end of the year and if necessary the changes, including the de-criminalisation of homosexual acts by consenting adults in private, would be imposed by Orders in Council. The deadline having passed we are reviewing the situation.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what presentations he has made to British companies involved in the extraction of oil in Sudan in connection with the recommendations made in the document, "Human Security in Sudan: The report of a Canadian Assessment Mission". [114780]
Mr. Hain:
We shall continue to offer full and frank advice to British companies which inquire about the oil industry in the Sudan. We have of course studied the Canadian report and take it into account in framing our advice to British companies.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received on the use of revenues received by the Government of Sudan from the exploration of oil and development projects. [114783]
Mr. Hain:
We have pressed for oil revenues to be used for development projects and for transparency in the oil account. The Government of Sudan have made a public assurance that this will happen.
Exports of oil began only in August 1999 and they do not yet have reports on expenditure. We will remain focused on this issue as reports become available and we shall look to the Government of Sudan to honour the assurances they have made.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 February 2000, Official Report, column 738W, on Sudan, what discussions he has had with his Canadian counterpart concerning the recommendations made in the study, "Human Security in Sudan: The report of a Canadian Assessment Mission"; and if he will make a statement. [114773]
Mr. Hain:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had the opportunity to meet his Canadian counterpart since the beginning of February. We have however studied the report that I referred to in my previous answer.
(2) how many persons have been apprehended in Kosovo for trafficking in heroin since police from NATO countries arrived; [114925]
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