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Step Change Project

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Step Change Project, listing its aims, objectives and methods. [124332]

Mr. Vaz: Following Britain's Presidency in 1998, the Prime Minister called for a "Step Change" in Britain's relations with its European partners. The initiative is intended to increase ministerial and official contacts across Europe and thereby promote British interests in the EU. As Minister for Europe, I co-ordinate Whitehall's "Step Change" efforts through the "Ministerial Group for European Co-ordination" (MINECOR).

Embassies (Party Political Activities)

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the rules concerning use of British embassies overseas by (a) Ministers and (b) hon. Members for party political activities. [124333]

Mr. Robin Cook: It is established policy that Government property should not be used for party political activities.

Lockerbie Bombing

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) he, (b) other Foreign Office ministers and (c) officials were informed of statements made by Mr. Ahmad Behbahani, in respect of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103. [124946]

Mr. Battle: Officials were informed of Mr. Behbahani's remarks on 5 June 2000. Ministers were informed on 6 June 2000.

8 Jun 2000 : Column: 309W

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain and assess the text of the statement made in the USA on 4 June by Mr. Ahmed Behbahani in relation to the Lockerbie bombing; and if he will make a statement. [124897]

Mr. Battle: Since Mr. Behbahani's alleged remarks relate to the current trial at the Scottish Court in the Netherlands, it would be inappropriate to comment on them.

Drugs Control

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the United States counterparts concerning the use of Fusarium Oxysporum in drug eradication strategies in Colombia and Peru. [124999]

Mr. Battle: Field trials on Fusarium Oxysporum have not yet been conducted by UNDCP in Colombia. Before these take place further research would need to be carried out inter alia to confirm that it is specific to coca and would not harm agricultural crops and other plant species. Field testing and any subsequent eradication campaign would also have to be approved by the Colombian Government.

Her Majesty's Government are not funding UNDCP research into Fusarium Oxysporum. The Foreign Secretary has not discussed it with the US Government.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his UN counterparts about the effectiveness of the UN Drugs Control Programme's drug reduction strategy for drug-producing regions. [125017]

Mr. Battle: The UK is an active participant in UN drugs policy forums and is a key supporter of the United Nations Drugs Control Programme. In co-ordination with the United States and EU partners, the UK is supporting improved evaluation and management procedures in UNDCP drugs assistance projects. Examples of UK contributions include support for effective action by the UNDCP in reducing the cultivation of coca bush in Bolivia.

East Timor

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the return of East Timorese refugees from West Timor. [125016]

Mr. Battle: More than 162,000 refugees have now returned to East Timor. The UK continues to press the Indonesian authorities to resolve outstanding issues (eg civil service pensions) to allow those refugees who still wish to return to do so safely and speedily.

Small Arms

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts concerning the implementation of the 1999 EU resolution on combating the excessive and uncontrolled accumulation and spread of small arms. [125021]

8 Jun 2000 : Column: 310W

Mr. Hain: None, but officials regularly discuss small arms issues with EU counterparts and the Commission. These issues include the implementation of the resolution and the related December 1998 Joint Action on small arms proliferation.

Rights of the Child Convention

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government plan to ratify the protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibiting states from allowing children under the age of 18 years to fight in armed conflicts. [125022]

Mr. Hain: The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 May 2000. It is expected to be opened for signature and ratification later this year. The Government welcome adoption of the Optional Protocol. We are looking closely at the implications for the UK Armed Forces and the measures that would be required to allow the UK to ratify.

Colombia

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 April 2000, Official Report, column 394W, if he will make a statement on progress made in the hosting of an international gathering to discuss the details of Plan Colombia before the donors conference in July. [125013]

Mr. Battle: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will host a preparatory meeting of senior officials and technical experts on Colombia on Monday 19 June. The Colombian Government will be represented as well as the Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank, selected NGOs and the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Colombia. We have invited all EU member states, the Commission, Japan, Canada, the US, Norway and Switzerland.

On 5 June I hosted a meeting in the FCO with academics and NGOs in order to hear a wide range of views of academics, NGOs and officials prior to the London and Madrid meetings.

Pristina

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current security situation in Pristina and its effect on the safety of returning refugees. [124906]

Mr. Vaz: The security situation in Pristina is described as generally calm by the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR). There is no general threat to Kosovo Albanian refugees returning to Pristina. In the case of Serb refugee returns, UNMIK and KFOR are doing their utmost to facilitate their return, offering protection where necessary.

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ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

Housing

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of total capital spending Government spending on housing and construction represented in each of the last 10 years. [123007]

Mr. Mullin: Central Government capital expenditure on housing in England as a percentage of total capital public spending for England over the last 10 years is set out in the table. Expenditure consists mainly of grants and subsidies provided through local authorities and the Housing Corporation. By 2001-02, the Government will have doubled the annual level of capital expenditure on housing that it inherited from the previous administration.

Year	Percentage
1990-91	12.9
1991-92	14.7
1992-93	16.0
1993-94	14.8
1994-95	11.9
1995-96	10.1
1996-97	11.4
1997-98	9.7
1998-99	10.5
1999-2000(2)	10.7

(2) Provisional

Note:

Calculations based on housing capital expenditure figures in the Department of the Environment Annual Report, 1996, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Annual Report 2000 and Table 4.1 of HM Treasury's Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2000-01

London Underground

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which EU legislation governs direct expenditure by London Underground Ltd. and its successors, in undertaking or supervising by a combination of direct and contracted operations, measures necessary to ensure the standards of operational performance required by the long-term contracts proposed by the Government. [124637]

Mr. Hill: All arrangements will need to be compatible with the relevant provisions of the EC Treaty and associated legislation.

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Camping

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 12 May 2000, Official Report, column 485W, how many prosecutions under section 59(8) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 have been made concerning waste left by unauthorised camping. [124746]

Mr. Mullin: The Department holds no central records of prosecutions made under this provision.

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