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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Briefing Documents

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy on producing briefing documents giving information about senior businessman, politicians and other public figures in overseas countries; and if he will place in the Library copies of all such documents. [124334]

Mr. Robin Cook [holding answer 8 June 2000]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and posts abroad collect a vast amount of information on all subjects, including information about personalities in other countries, in order to provide briefing and assessments for Ministers and officials. Such information is often acquired on a confidential basis and in some cases is subject to statutory restrictions on disclosure. It would not be appropriate, therefore, to make it available as the hon. Member suggests.

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British Council

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work has been done to expand the work and upgrade the facilities of the British Council in Lithuania; and if he will make a statement. [125666]

Mr. Hain: Since opening in refurbished premises in 1992, the British Council offices in Lithuania have been further renovated and developed, and electronic information sources have been installed. The Council intends to ensure its operations remain appropriate and its premises suitably equipped.

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work is being undertaken by the British Council in Kosovo to show films to the local population; what types of film the Council plans to show; what funding has been made available from his Department to support this activity; and if he will make a statement. [125595]

Mr. Hain: The British Council plans to show recent British feature films in the newly opened cinema in Pristina. It will fund a visit by the cinema's manager to the UK to select films and discuss commercial access to UK films. The Council has also negotiated rights to enable Kosovo TV to broadcast a selection of British television programmes during the coming year. The FCO contributed £114,000 to help the Council set up its operation in Kosovo.

India

Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on a permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council by India. [125550]

Mr. Hain: We are committed to early enlargement of the permanent and the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council, including the creation of a new permanent seat for the Asian electorial group. It would be for the Asian group to decide who would occupy any permanent seat allocated to them; no doubt others could have claims too.

Nigeria

Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning attacks on the Christian population in Kaduna, Nigeria. [125734]

Mr. Hain: We monitor closely the religious tensions in Kaduna and elsewhere in Nigeria. Following a demonstration against the possible imposition of the Sharia penal code, violent riots broke out in Kaduna in February. Christians and Muslims burned each others' properties, businesses and places of worship. An estimated 500 people, both Christian and Muslim, were killed. The violence spread to southern Nigeria where around 500 people, mostly Muslims, died.

Violence flared up again in Kaduna in May, in which it is reported that about 200 people died. The reason for this outbreak of violence is not clear.

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Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the President of Nigeria concerning the attacks on Christians in Nigeria. [125733]

Mr. Hain: We are monitoring closely the religious tensions in Nigeria, which have led to the deaths of hundreds of Christians and Muslims. I have expressed my deep concern to the Nigerian authorities. Our High Commission in Abuja is in regular contact with the local and Federal authorities, and with leaders of both communities. We welcome their efforts to diffuse tension and work towards reconciliation.

South Lebanon

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning the whereabouts and welfare of the civilian population who have fled South Lebanon. [125892]

Mr. Hain: Most recent reports indicate that of the 6,000 or so Lebanese (civilians and former SLA) who fled to Israel from southern Lebanon during and after the Israeli withdrawal, about one quarter have already returned to Lebanon. Those that remain in Israel have been housed and given residency for one year initially. They are entitled to work and to benefit from Israeli healthcare.

Egypt

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received regarding the conviction of the Egyptian Christian, Shaiboob William Arsal, to 15 years hard labour. [125890]

Mr. Hain: Shaiboob William Arsal has been sentenced to 15 years hard labour for the murder of two people in 1998. We understand that he is likely to appeal to a higher criminal court.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government are supporting the request of UNHCR to interview the Cuban citizens, Dr. Noris Pena Martinez and Dr. Leonel Cordova Rodriguez, currently held in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [125803]

Mr. Hain: We understand that the two doctors are in the care of UNHCR who are hoping to relocate them to a third country. We urge the Government of Zimbabwe to abide by its obligations as a signatory to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees.

WALES

Council House Sales

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning the increased release of receipts from council house sales; and if he will make a statement. [125560]

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Mr. Paul Murphy [holding answer 12 June 2000]: I meet the First Secretary regularly and discuss a number of issues, including this one.

Both the First Secretary and I are aware that, currently, the only significant requirement for local authorities to set aside receipts for debt redemption relates to capital receipts from the sale of council houses. The Assembly has therefore asked that the issue of whether this position can be improved upon be considered as part of the general review of capital finance regulations being undertaken in conjunction with the Welsh Local Government Association.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Millennium Dome

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to sell the Millennium Dome; and if he will make a statement. [124940]

Janet Anderson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and the Regions gave my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Mr. Linton) on 17 January 2000, Official Report, column 255W.

Millennium Projects

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how much partnership funding has been secured, and how much remains to be secured, for each of the major capital projects funded by the Millennium Commission; [125907]

(2) what the original planned completion date was for each of the Millennium Commission's major capital projects; and what the present expected completion date is in each case; [125905]

(3) how much of the total Lottery grant awarded to the Millennium Commission's major capital projects has been paid in each case. [125906]

Mr. Chris Smith: This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I will write to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the financial position of the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. [125904]

Mr. Alan Howarth: Following re-structuring of the Royal Armouries' relationship with their private sector partner in July last year, I announced on 19 October that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State had provided additional grant-in-aid of £1 million per annum to cover the cost of the responsibilities transferred. Since then, the Royal Armouries has managed its expenditure successfully within the additional grant provided. We will continue to work closely with the Royal Armouries on the necessary improvements in management.

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NMEC

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the average amount of money spent by visitors to the Dome on (a) food and drink and (b) merchandise; and how much in each case is retained by NMEC. [118510]

Janet Anderson [holding answer 10 April 2000]: The average amount of money spent by visitors to the Dome on (a) food and drink and (b) merchandise is just over £3 in both cases. NMEC retains between 20 and 50 per cent., depending on the individual contractual arrangements with suppliers. Where NMEC is the supplier, the percentage depends on its pricing strategy, taking into account value for money and prices in the open market.

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