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Fiji

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on (a) the political settlement of the recent crisis in Fiji, including its racial aspects, and (b) Fiji's future membership of the Commonwealth. [131413]

Mr. Battle: We are relieved that all the hostages have now been released, but dismayed that George Speight and his supporters have been allowed to overthrow Fiji's democratically elected Government at the point of a gun, and that the 1997 Constitution has been abrogated. We continue to call for the restoration of a democratic and constitutional Government which respects the rights of all Fijians. Unless Fiji's new interim administration can demonstrate a clear road map for returning Fiji to democracy, the Commonwealth may wish to consider further measures at the next meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in September.

Uganda

Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the fairness of the Ugandan referendum on the Movement System of 29 June; what discussions he has had with the Government of Uganda (a) during and (b) since the campaign; and if he will make a statement. [131414]

Mr. Hain: In its statement of 1 July, the International Donor Referendum Group, which includes the UK, concluded that although the voting had been peaceful and orderly, the Referendum campaign as a whole had not been conducted on a level playing field. While noting that it was not clear that these shortcomings were on a scale significantly to influence the result of the Referendum, the Group expressed its hope that the presidential elections scheduled for 2001 would resume momentum towards more inclusive Government.

The Group has since met with President Museveni to discuss progress towards greater pluralism, good governance and democratic accountability.

East Timor

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with his plans to help train members of East Timor's civil and foreign service. [131467]

Mr. Battle: We are preparing to bring a group of East Timorese diplomats to the United Kingdom later this year for an intensive four-week tailor-made training course. These students will form the nucleus of East Timor's Diplomatic Service. We are also exploring other projects for East Timor's fledgling civil services, to be funded through our Support for Democracy Programme.

CABINET OFFICE

COI Trading Fund

Mr. Borrow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she will publish the accounts of the Central Office of Information Trading Fund. [131672]

19 Jul 2000 : Column: 191W

Mr. Ian McCartney: I have arranged for the accounts of the Central Office of Information Trading Fund to be laid before the House today.

Rural Issues

Mr. Breed: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what work is being carried out on rural issues by (a) the Social Exclusion Unit, (b) the Performance and Innovation Unit, (c) the Women's Unit and (d) the Regulatory Impact Unit. [128046]

Marjorie Mowlam: These units often carry out work on issues that are relevant to both rural and urban areas. Their recent work specifically on rural issues, or with a rural theme, includes:

(a) the Social Exclusion Unit's recent consultation framework document on a National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal;

(b) the Performance and Innovation Unit's reports on Rural Economies (published December 1999) and the Post Office network (published June 2000); and

(c) the work of the Women's Unit in ensuring that the preparation of the Rural White Paper takes account of issues of importance for rural women.

Departmental Vehicles

Mr. Pearson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list for her Department and its agencies the approved list of manufacturers of (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles; and if she will make a statement on her Department's leasing and purchasing policy. [128983]

Mr. Ian McCartney: The make and model of car which the Government Car Service (GCS) can offer to Ministers, senior officials and other approved customers are set out in the Prime Minister's guidance on ministerial travel. Currently, GCS can offer the following cars:

Make	Model
Ford	Mondeo
Jaguar	Sovereign, Daimler
Nissan	Primera
Rover	R45
Vauxhall	Omega, Vectra

Other than for the GCS, my Department does not operate approved lists of cars or commercial vehicles. Purchase, or leasing, decisions are taken on the basis of best value for money based on while life costs.

Pesticides Tax

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list (a) the representations her Department has received and (b) meetings it has held on the proposed pesticides tax with the (i) UKASTA, (ii) NOAH, (iii) the National Farmers Union, (iv) the Country Landowners Association, and (v) agrochemical companies, indicating which companies; and what was the date and duration of each of the meetings. [131102]

Marjorie Mowlam: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 18 July 2000, Official Report, column 110W.

19 Jul 2000 : Column: 192W

Disaster Contingency Measures

Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what representations she has received from consumer and pensioner groups about the need to have in place effective disaster contingency measures; [130965]

(2) what recommendations she has made to the principal Departments of state about disaster contingency measures. [130966]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to a reply I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Sayeed) on 5 July 2000, Official Report, column 219W.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Pakistan and Bangladesh

Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's programmes in Pakistan and Bangladesh. [130961]

Clare Short: The main goal of our programmes in Pakistan and Bangladesh is systematic reduction of the unacceptably high levels of poverty which prevail in both countries. In Bangladesh, Pakistan and elsewhere we work to help them move towards the achievement of the International Development Targets. Our plans for addressing this in Bangladesh are described in our relevant Country Strategy Paper, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. In Pakistan, where our work was disrupted by last year's military coup, we are providing technical assistance to the Pakistani administration to support action to reduce poverty and corruption and support the development of genuine democracy.

Ilisu Dam

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has held with the UK Executive Director of the World Bank since the findings of the Independent Inspection Panel's report on the Ilisu Dam became available. [131314]

Clare Short: I have had no discussions with our Executive Director about the findings of the Independent Inspection Panels on Ilisu Dam as neither my Department nor the World Bank is involved in the project.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Decommissioning

4. Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recent developments regarding the inspection of paramilitary weapons dumps. [129863]

6. Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with General de Chastelain regarding decommissioning. [129865]

19 Jul 2000 : Column: 193W

Mr. Mandelson: Mr. Ramaphosa and Mr. Ahtisaari have reported that they have completed their first inspection of several IRA arms dumps. We welcome this development--it represents substantial progress and an honouring of commitments given at the beginning of May. I am confident the inspectors will report any further progress that has been made when they deem it appropriate to do so.

Equally significant is the renewal of contact by the IRA's representative with General de Chastelain's Decommissioning Body, and they will resume their discussions so that IRA arms are ultimately put completely and verifiably beyond use.

16. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with General de Chastelain about progress to date in decommissioning. [129875]

17. Sir David Madel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the decommissioning of illegal arms and explosives in Northern Ireland. [129876]

23. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received on progress towards decommissioning; and if he will make a statement. [129882]

Mr. Ingram: Under the Good Friday Agreement, the Decommissioning Commission operates as an independent body to resolve the decommissioning issue. The Commission has provided written reports on progress on a number of occasions.

20. Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the decommissioning of illegal arms and explosives to begin. [129879]

Mr. Ingram: We hope decommissioning will start as soon as possible.

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