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European Public Prosecutor

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made on document COM (2000) 608, concerning a European public prosecutor; and if the Government intend to veto proposals to amend the treaties in respect of the Nice Council. [134378]

Mrs. Roche: I have been asked to reply.

Document COM (2000) 608 is the Commission's contribution to the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the protection of the Community's financial interests, and is being considered by member states in that context. The Government's position is that the IGC should focus on the issues necessary for enlargement.

The United Kingdom Government do not support the creation of a European public prosecutor (EPP) and will oppose any moves in this direction. We have made our position on this clear to the Commission, to the Council and to the European Parliament.

British-Russia Centre

Kali Mountford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report of the British-Russia Centre and British East-West Centre will be available. [136226]

Mr. Vaz: Copies of the centres' annual report for financial year 1999-2000 were placed in the Libraries of the House last week. The centres received grant in aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of £230,850 to support their activities in 1999-2000. In addition, the centres secured funding of £257,130 for direct expenditure on projects. The centres manage projects to promote and support the development of democratic institutions and the rule of law and society in Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Activities last year included organisation of the UK team of OSCE observers to the Russian Duma elections,

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hosting a human rights seminar in Minsk, co-hosting a conference on the Russian economy and organising visits and lectures.

The FCO's quinquennial review of the centres in 1999 confirmed that the centres continued to make a valuable contribution to the strengthening of bilateral relations with Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The review's main recommendation was that the FCO's grant in aid should be spent on the project work of the centres and that membership activities should become self-financing. The centres have begun to implement this recommendation.

Parliamentary Scrutiny of Treaties

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government plan to respond to the second report of the Procedure Committee of Session 1999-2000, Parliamentary Scrutiny of Treaties (HC210). [136227]

Mr. Battle: The Government's response to the Procedure Committee's report was presented to Parliament yesterday in the form of an unnumbered Command Paper. Copies are available from the Vote Office.

Kosovo

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the supply of hydraulic lifting equipment for use by the Irish KFOR contingent in Kosovo. [136516]

Mr. Vaz: We are happy to approve an export licence for the supply of spare parts for the maintenance of hydraulic lifting systems for use by the Irish KFOR contingent. The goods will assist KFOR in the valuable work they are doing reconstructing a peaceful Kosovo.

These goods appear on the UK's military list. UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1160 (1998) prohibits the supply of arms and related material to the FRY. However, UNSCR 1244 (1999) provides that the prohibitions imposed by SCR 1160 shall not apply to the sale or supply of arms and related material for use by the international civil and security presence in Kosovo.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Sherbimi Informativ I Kosaves is (a) officially and (b) informally active in Kosovo. [134197]

Mr. Vaz: The UN Mission in Kosovo has not given permission to any organisation called Sherbimi Informativ I Kosaves (or Kosovo Intelligence Service) to be active in Kosovo. The international presence in Kosovo continues to monitor and take action against any parallel structures or institutions in Kosovo where they pose a threat to KFOR's or UNMIK's objectives.

European Federation of Retired and

Elderly Persons

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of the

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Prime Minister of 19 May 2000, Official Report, column 286W, if he will deposit in the Library a copy of his letter to the European Federation of Retired and Elderly Persons. [134145]

Mr. Vaz: A copy has been deposited in the Library of the House.

UN Drug Control Programme

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the necessity of genetically modifying the mycotoxins involved in the United Nations Drug Control Programme research into the use of mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes; and if he will make a statement; [134272]

(2) what assessment he has made of the potential dangers arising from United Nations Drug Control Programme research into the use of mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes; and if he will make a statement; [134271]

(3) what assessment he has made of the potential for mutation of the mycotoxins involved in the United Nations Drug Control Programme research into the use of mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes; and if he will make a statement; [134273]

(4) what assessment he has made of the potential dangers arising from the use of (a) naturally occurring and (b) genetically-modified mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes; and if he will make a statement. [134274]

Mr. Battle: The only United Nations International Drugs Programme (UNDCP) research into mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes is into the opium poppy fungus, pleospora papaveracea. The UK has supported this programme which has focused on establishing whether this naturally occurring fungus is viable as an opium poppy control agent and whether the fungus is specific to opium poppy.

Subject to the progress of research in this phase, a further phase of research would investigate wider safety issues, including the potential for mutation. The Government have made it clear that if research revealed harmful effects, the UK would withdraw support and press for closure of the programme.

No consideration is being given to the use of genetically modified mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been contributed by his Department towards the funding of United Nations Drug Control Programme research during each of the last five years for which figures are available. [134276]

Mr. Battle: There was no FCO spending on research programmes of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) in the financial years 1995-96 or 1996-97. Figures since then are as follows:

1997-98--£100,000 for research into pleospora papaveracea

1998-99--£58,281 for assessment of drug abuse in Iran

1999-2000--£1,051,748 for surveys of coca and poppy cultivation in Columbia, Peru and Afghanistan and studies of the drugs trade in Afghanistan.

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In addition, in 1999-2000 the FCO contributed £100,000 to the UNDCP Caribbean Coordination Mechanism, of which a proportion, not readily disaggregated, contributes to collection of information on the drug problem in the Caribbean region.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which states have contributed towards the funding of United Nations Drug Control Programme research into the use of (a) pleospora papaverecea; (b) fusarium oxysporum and (c) other mycotoxins in drug crop eradication programmes during each of the last five years for which figures are available. [134264]

Mr. Battle: The United Kingdom and the United States have contributed to the funding of the United Nations International Drugs Control Programme (UNDCP) research into the opium poppy fungus, pleospora papaveracea. The UK contributed £100,000 to the project in 1998. There is no current UNDCP research into either the coca fungus, fusarium oxysporum, or other mycotoxins for drug crop eradication programmes.

Saudi Arabia

Ms Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the United Kingdom Government have had with the Saudi Arabian authorities on the establishment by Saudi Arabia of the governmental and non-governmental organisations recommended by the UN Commission on Human Rights. [133945]

Mr. Hain: From discussions between the British Embassy in Riyadh and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we understand that details of the governmental committee are being finalised. As far as we are aware, a date for the committee's first meeting has not been agreed. Progress to establish a non-governmental committee has been slower. We will continue to press the Saudis.

Ms Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Saudi Arabian Government in support of increased access to Saudi Arabia for non-governmental human rights monitors, with particular reference to monitors from Amnesty International. [133947]

Mr. Hain: The Government have not been asked by Amnesty International or any other non-governmental organisation to approach the Saudi Government about access to the Kingdom. In the first instance, this is a matter for individual NGOs to discuss with the Saudi Government.

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