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Cyprus

24. Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the application of Cyprus to join the European Union. [120894]

Mr. Vaz: Cyprus's accession negotiations with the European Union have covered 25 of the 31 chapters of the acquis communautaire, comprising the rights and obligations of EU membership. The remainder will be opened this year. Fifteen chapters do not need further negotiation at this stage--the greatest number for any candidate.

The EU's objective is accession, following a political settlement, of a united Cyprus to the EU. It would clearly be easier for the united island to accede to the EU. But the Helsinki European Council in December 1999 agreed that a settlement is not a precondition for accession. We fully support the UN proximity talks preparing for a comprehensive settlement, which are due to resume shortly in New York.

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Turkish Prime Minister on his recent statement about Cyprus; and if he will make a statement on that statement. [121932]

Mr. Vaz: The Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with the Turkish Prime Minister on the subject of Cyprus. However, we maintain regular contact with the Turkish Government in the context of the current UN settlement process and continue to urge all parties involved to cooperate with the UN Secretary-General constructively and flexibly.

Central America (Street Children)

25. Mr. Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received relating to street children in central America. [120896]

Mr. Hain: Most of the reports relate to Guatemala and Honduras. The latest were about the murders of two 17-year-old Honduran boys.

We follow this issue with interest and concern, and regularly make representations to Central American authorities. We maintain regular contact with NGOs active on street children issues.

We are active in helping to alleviate the suffering of street children. The FCO is today hosting the Americas Open Day as part of the String of Pearls Millennium Festival. This will include a live world-wide internet broadcast on Street Children in Central America alongside "Toybox" a UK charity we support in Guatemala: A first for the FCO.

16 May 2000 : Column: 110W

Franco-British Co-operation

27. Mr. Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Franco-British co-operation in international affairs. [120899]

Mr. Vaz: The UK and France have achieved a great deal since the UK/French Summits at St. Malo in December 1998 and in London in November 1999, which committed both Governments to strengthening their foreign policy cooperation. In addition to our joint work on the European defence initiative, we have worked together closely on Africa, the Middle East, the Western Balkans and on UN issues.

Non-proliferation Treaty

28. Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcome of the non-proliferation treaty review conference in New York. [120900]

37. Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the non-proliferation treaty review conference. [120909]

Mr. Hain: The Review Conference runs until 19 May. The UK delegation will continue to work for a positive outcome to the Conference which will advance the goal of nuclear disarmament.

UN Security Council

29. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is in relation to increasing the number of permanent members of the UN Security Council. [120901]

Mr. Hain: We believe early enlargement of the UN Security Council is essential to make it more representative of today's world.

We support expansion of the Council from 15 members to 24 including five additional permanent seats: two for Germany and Japan plus three for developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

New Zealand Prime Minister (State Visit)

30. Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit to the UK of the Prime Minister of New Zealand. [120902]

35. Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit to the UK of the Prime Minister of New Zealand. [120907]

Mr. Battle: Helen Clark visited the UK on 18 and 19 April. She had very productive discussions with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and with other senior colleagues. I also had the opportunity to meet her briefly. We attach great importance to maintaining our excellent and close relationship with the government of New Zealand, and were delighted to see Ms Clark here so soon in to her term of office.

16 May 2000 : Column: 111W

Italy

31. Mr. Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts he has had with the new Government of Italy. [120903]

Mr. Vaz: The new Italian Government were approved by the Italian Parliament on 28 April. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini at the gathering of EU foreign ministers held under the Portuguese presidency in the Azores 5-6 May.

St. George's and Europe Days

32. Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how his Department's establishments (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) overseas marked (i) St. George's day and (ii) Europe day. [120904]

Mr. Vaz: The FCO does not officially mark St. George's day (or St. David's or St. Andrew's Day). Nor do we issue guidance to our missions overseas, which represent the interests of all the United Kingdom.

On Europe Day, the FCO and missions overseas fly the EU flag alongside the Union Jack. This year, for the first time, the FCO also hosted a Europe Open Day on 9 May to coincide with the London String of Pearls Millennium Festival. Some of our missions overseas also contributed to Europe Day events organised by their host Governments and the local offices of the European Commission.

International Drugs Trade

34. Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by Her Majesty's Government on tackling the international drugs trade. [120906]

Mr. Battle: UK counter-drugs activity overseas aims to reduce the availability of Class A drugs in the UK. Progress, achieved through co-ordinated inter- Departmental activity on agreed priorities, is being seen in increased seizures of heroin and cocaine en route to the UK/EU, and increased disruption of the criminal groups involved in trafficking. The UK is also active in international forums aimed at strengthening the global framework for tackling the illicit drugs trade, including in the UN and G8. In the financial year 1999-2000 my Department spent £6.7 million on anti-drugs projects overseas.

Peru

36. Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent Peruvian presidential elections. [120908]

Mr. Battle: The UK has played a leading role in calling for higher standards in the Peruvian electoral process, commissioning election campaign reports and providing and financing electoral observers. We welcomed the announcement of the second round on 28 May, and continue to press for opposition access to the media, proper use of state resources and avoidance of the irregularities of the first round.

16 May 2000 : Column: 112W

Stability Pact

Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on implementation of the Stability Pact for south-east Europe. [120879]

Mr. Vaz: The Government are pleased with the progress of the Stability Pact for south-east Europe. I represented Britain at the regional funding conference on 29 March, at which 1.8 billion euro was sought to fund quick start projects in the region. In the event, 2.4 billion euro was pledged. The UK has played a leading role in the Pact, reflecting our position as a key contributor to stability in the Balkans.

Intergovernmental Conference

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in respect of "IGC: Reform for Enlargement", Cm 4595, how many copies were printed; what the cost per copy was to the Government; what the sale price was; how many were distributed free and to whom; if he will estimate the cost per copy to the Government and the sale price if it had been in black and white only; and for what reasons he did not print it in that form. [121038]

Mr. Vaz: 1,500 copies were printed. The cost per the copy to Government was £7.40 and the sale price £11.10. Numerous copies were distributed free of charge to opinion formers and members of the public. The cost per copy of a black and white version would have been £4.47, with a sale price of £6.70.

We decided to publish the White Paper in colour in order to make the material clearer and more accessible to the public.

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to "IGC: Reform for Enlargement, Cm 4595", which proposals under discussion in respect of the Enlargement Treaty planned for consideration at Nice in December would require amendment of Acts of Parliament; and when the proposed treaty will be published. [121078]

Mr. Vaz: We hope that the intergovernmental conference negotiations currently underway will be concluded by the end of the year. It is too early to say what the result of those negotiations will be, but the outcome will require ratification by Parliament.

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