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World Cup
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 24 July 2000, Official Report, column 599W, on what date the Minister for Sport wrote to the Football Association about the costs of the World Cup bid. [133158]
Kate Hoey: As I advised the hon. Member in my answers to him on 24 July 2000, Official Report, column 416W, and 25 July 2000, Official Report, column 599W, I wrote to the Chief Executive of the Football Association on 20 June 2000 to request details of his plans to publish accounts for the 2006 World Cup bid.
Public Bodies Reviews
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he intends to undertake reviews of the (a) National Heritage Memorial Fund, (b) National Gallery, (c) National Portrait Gallery and (d) Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. [133733]
Mr. Alan Howarth: As part of the Department's programme of quinquennial reviews of its public bodies, I am today announcing that this summer we will be
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starting reviews of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts.
The reviews will include an evaluation of the role and functions of these bodies and how those functions can best be carried out, and a review of the efficiency and effectiveness of the way in which they deliver services to their users. We estimate that the reviews will be completed next spring. A copy of the announcement has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
UNITA
Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if violations of the United Nations sanctions against UNITA are continuing; and if he will make a statement. [133608]
Mr. Hain: Sadly, we have reason to believe that violations of the sanctions against UNITA are continuing. We are aware of reports that UNITA continue to fuel their war effort by selling diamonds, and that such private sales have taken place recently in Libreville, Gabon. We have heard that another private sale may be held in Libreville within the next month. We will be raising these reports
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urgently with the Gabonese authorities, and urging them to do everything in their power to prevent this illicit trade. We will also be passing this information to the Chairman of the UN Angola Sanctions Committee.
We also have reason to believe that Victor Bout continues to supply arms to Angola in breach of the UN arms embargo. We call on all States to fulfil their international obligations to implement and enforce the mandatory sanctions imposed by the Security Council of the United Nations; there can be no excuse for any State to provide support for Bout in his continued flouting of UN sanctions.
European Union
Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for August and the major European Union events for the next six months. [133609]
Mr. Vaz: The information is as follows:
- European Calendar: August-January 2001
- This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.
- August
- There are no Councils scheduled for this month.
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International Criminal Court
Ms Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in draft the legislation to enable UK ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. [133611]
Mr. Hain: The draft International Criminal Court Bill will be published on 22 August for consultation. We are publishing the Bill as soon as it is ready, although this is during the recess, because we are anxious to make progress on legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows. We hope that the draft Bill will receive support from all sides of the House and look forward to receiving comments from interested parliamentarians, individuals and organisations to whom we will be sending unsolicited copies. Any hon. Members who would like a copy of the consultation document sent directly to them at their constituencies or homes should contact the ICC Bill team, United Nations Department, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Copies will be despatched on the day of publication. Comments should be received by 12 October.
Single Market
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what civil and police resource is being planned under Article 308 of the Treaty of the European Community in respect to threats to the operation
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of the single market from (a) inside and (b) outside the European Union, as envisaged in Commission document (00) 119; what form of voting will govern the decision on its establishment; and what estimate he has made of (a) how many personnel will be involved and (b) the cost in the first year of operation. [132573]
Mr. Vaz: Commission document COM(2000)119 proposes the creation of a Rapid Reaction Facility. This would allow for rapid intervention in the form of money from the community budget in situations of emerging or actual crisis in third countries. It would complement humanitarian intervention and other tools deployed in crisis situations. The proposal's legal base is Article 308 and voting in the Council would therefore be by unanimity. The Commission has proposed a budget of 30 million euro in year one. The proposal is still under discussion in the Council.
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