| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
President Clinton
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has met President Clinton outside (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the United States since 1 July 1998; and what was the (i) date, (ii) location and (iii) purpose of each meeting. [117067]
The Prime Minister: The information requested is as follows:
8 February 1999, Amman, at the funeral of King Hussein;
18 June, bilateral in the margins of the Cologne G8 Summit;
30 July 1999, Sarajevo Summit; and
20 November 1999, meeting in Florence for "Third Way" conference.
Voting Systems
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Prime Minister if Mr. Geoff Mulgan of his Policy Unit is involved in policy relating to voting systems. [117153]
NORTHERN IRELAND
Human Rights Training (RUC)
Mr. Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in the training of RUC officers in human rights issues. [108061]
Mr. Ingram: As with all police forces in the UK, the Royal Ulster Constabulary is examining all aspects of human rights including training in preparation for the Human Rights Act coming into force in October 2000.
It is in contact with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and with national police training colleges and plans are at an advanced stage for all RUC officers and civilian staff to receive training.
Union Flag
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if a Union flag was provided for, if arrangements were made to fly the Union flag on the designated dates at, and if the Union flag was flown on 17 March at (a) Department of Agriculture, The Mall,
3 Apr 2000 : Column: 281W
Armagh, (b) Department of Agriculture, Newry Road, Armagh, (c) Southern Education and Library Board, The Mall, Armagh, (d) Southern Education and Library Board, Market House, Armagh, (e) Crown Buildings, Alexander Road, Armagh, (f) RUC Station, Newry Road, Armagh, (g) Department of Environment, Ballinakone, Armagh and (h) Vehicle Testing Station, Hamiltonstown Road, Armagh; and if he will make a statement. [116089]
Mr. Ingram:
All central Government buildings are provided with a Union flag and a list of those dates on which the Union flag should be flown.
The Union flag was provided and flown on 17 March at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's offices on the Mall, Armagh and Crown Buildings, Alexander Road, Armagh and the Department of the Environment's Vehicle Testing Station, Hamiltonstown Road, Armagh. Arrangements have been made to fly the Union flag at these buildings on all designated dates.
It is assumed that the building referred to in (g) is the Department of Regional Development's Roads Service Depot at 17 Ballinahonemore Road, Armagh. Although the Union flag was provided and arrangements are in place to fly the flag on all designated dates at this building, and at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's office at Newry Road, Armagh, it was not flown on these buildings on 17 March due to an oversight.
The Union flag is not flown at RUC Stations on Public and/or Bank holidays.
The decision whether or not to fly the Union flag on Southern Education and Library Board property is a matter for that Board.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in developing a memorandum of understanding between the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Equality Commission. [117357]
Mr. George Howarth:
This is a matter for the Commissions themselves.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister of State of 24 March 2000, Official Report, columns 1292-93 on Iraq, what assessment he has made of the letter of 9 March from Riad El-Taher of Friendship Across Frontiers. [116875]
Mr. Hain:
FCO officials replied to Mr. El-Taher's letter of 9 March on 29 March addressing his comments on the humanitarian situation in Iraq.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister of State of 24 March 2000, Official Report, columns 1292-93 on Iraq, what evidence he has received that Iraq is manufacturing chlorine-based mustard gas. [116871]
3 Apr 2000 : Column: 282W
Mr. Hain:
To reiterate the point in my statement of 24 March 2000, Official Report, columns 1292-93, chlorine is a constituent of mustard gas which was used by Iraq in the attack on Halabja in 1988. It is therefore clearly important that we are sure that chlorine imported into Iraq under the "oil for food" programme is used for the purposes for which it was approved.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, concerning his willingness to debate Government policy on Iraq, if he will do so at Kensington Town Hall on 6 May with Denis Halliday and Hans von Sponeck. [117247]
Mr. Hain:
As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in his letter, he is happy to debate Government policy on Iraq, as am I. Indeed I debated our policy with my hon. Friend in the House most recently on 24 March.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the scope of the projects of the British military advisers working in Zimbabwe; and how many such advisers there are. [116895]
Mr. Hain
[holding answer 30 March 2000]: There are five military advisers providing peacekeeping training to the Southern African Development Community region, including modules on human rights, rights of the child, the role of the ICRC, democratic control of the armed forces, structure of the UN and non-governmental organisations and three other advisers involved in peacekeeping training in support of UN priorities.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visiting rights available to (a) members of the family and (b) legal advisers, in respect of the 13 Jews detained in Iran. [117251]
Mr. Hain:
We have regularly raised with the Iranian authorities our concerns at the detention on espionage charges of a number of Iranian nationals including 10 members of the Jewish community, following the release on bail in February of three of the Jewish detainees. I discussed this matter with the Deputy Foreign Minister Sarmadi on 7 March. It is our understanding that visits by some family members have been allowed and that some of the defendants have appointed legal representatives. We are seeking clarification from the Iranian authorities on the latter point. The Iranian authorities are fully aware of the importance that we and our EU partners attach to this issue.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the availability of legal representation for the 13 Jews detained in Iran. [117252]
Mr. Hain:
Our understanding is that some of those detained have appointed legal representation. However, we are aware of recent reports that legal representation has been denied to some of the detainees. We are seeking clarification from the Iranian authorities on this point. The Iranian authorities are fully aware of the importance that we and our EU partners attach to this issue.
3 Apr 2000 : Column: 283W
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions Roger Crooks was present at meetings referred to in (a) Sir Thomas Legg's report, Session 1997-98, HC 1016, (b) the First Special report of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee sessions 1997-98, HC 760, (c) the Second Special report of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee session 1997-98, HC 852 and (d) the Second report of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee sessions 1998-99, HC116-I; and if he will make a statement. [116932]
Mr. Hain:
This information is not held centrally and to provide such details would incur disproportionate costs.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Mr. Roger Crooks was present at the official meeting held on 3 December 1997 between his Department's officials, and representatives of the (i) Cabinet Office, (ii) Department for International Development and (iii) Ministry of Defence; and if he will make a statement. [116925]
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions on which Mr. Peter Penfold had meetings with Roger Crooks (a) in Sierra Leone, (b) in Conakry, (c) in the United Kingdom and (d) on board a Royal Naval vessel. [116928]
Mr. Hain:
Mr. Penfold confirms that he spoke to Mr. Crooks occasionally in Sierra Leone and Conakry, but that he had no meetings with Mr. Crooks in the UK or elsewhere.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 2000, Official Report, column 287W, for what purposes his Department has had discussions on the general situation in Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement. [116968]
Mr. Hain:
As stated in my answer of 16 March, Mr. Crooks 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. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions John Flynn, the Foreign Secretary's Special Representative for Sierra Leone, met Mr. Roger Crooks. [116931]
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 16 March 2000, Official Report, column 287W, if his Department knew of Roger Crooks' dual US/Sierra Leone citizenship at the time of their discussions; and if these discussions have continued since Roger Crooks' expulsion from Sierra Leone. [116962]
3 Apr 2000 : Column: 284W
Mr. Hain:
The information is as follows:
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions (a) Miss Ann Grant, (b) Mr. Richard Dales, (c) Craig Murray, (d) Mr. Tim Andrews, (d) Mr. John Everad and (f) Lynda St. Cooke met Roger Crooks. [116927]
Mr. Hain:
We believe that none of the six has met Roger Crooks. We have not yet been able to confirm this with one of them. When we have confirmation I will write to my hon. Friend.
(a) No.
(b) The Government of Sierra Leone expulsion order on Mr. Crooks was lifted in May 1999. The High Commissioner reports that he had one discussion with Mr. Crooks since his return to Sierra Leone.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |