---

Whistleblowers

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures exist in his Department for a civil servant to report actions which (a) are illegal, improper, or unethical, (b) are in breach of constitutional convention or a professional code, (c) may involve possible maladministration and (d) are otherwise inconsistent with the Civil Service Code. [135467]

Mr. Hain [holding answer 30 October 2000]: In accordance with the Department's Code of Ethics, staff may raise with their line manager or with a senior member

7 Nov 2000 : Column: 187W

of the Administration concerns they may have about actions they consider to be illegal, unconstitutional, improper, unethical or otherwise in breach of the Code. They may also raise such concerns with the Civil Service Commissioners or with the Diplomatic Service Appeal Board as appropriate. The Code of Ethnics is annexed to the general principals of conduct contained in Departmental regulations which are issue to all staff on their appointment.

Independent Monitor for Visa Applications

Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where the post of Independent Monitor for Visa Applications was advertised; and how many people submitted applications. [135826]

Mr. Vaz: It is not usual practice to advertise a post of this nature. A short-list of candidates was compiled, including suggestions from the Cabinet Office Public Appointment Unit's database.

Kosovo

Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of civilian Serbs (a) resident in Kosovo at the beginning of 1999, (b) who left after the NATO action and the withdrawal of the Serb forces and (c) who have subsequently returned. [136290]

Mr. Vaz: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that before the conflict there were around 200,000 Kosovo Serbs in the province. Estimates for the number of Kosovo Serbs remaining are in the range of 100,000. Those who return frequently do so independently and usually without assistance from UNMIK; thus estimated number of Serb returns are not available.

Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of civilian (a) Roma, (b) Muslim and (c) Slav people resident in Kosovo at the beginning of 1999; how many left after the NATO action and the withdrawal of the Serb forces; and how many have subsequently returned. [136200]

Mr. Vaz: Pre-conflict population figures for Kosovo were far from exact. The 1991 census recorded some 45,000 Roma living in Kosovo, but their numbers may well have been considerably higher. The number of Gypsies (including Askali and Egyptians as well as Roma) is now estimated to be 30,000, although more may be present but unreported. The Pre-conflict Muslim population (Kosovo Albanians and Turks) was roughly estimated at 1.8 million. With the vast majority of the 860,000 refugees having returned to the province, their estimated numbers remain close to this figure. It is estimated that some 200,000 Kosovo Serbs were present pre-March 1999. In addition, Kosovo's Muslim Slave populations (Bosniacs and Gorani) stood at around 57,000 and 12,000 before the conflict and today number about 35,000 and 12,000.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of compatibility of the provisions of applicable law for Kosovo with human rights standards. [135426]

7 Nov 2000 : Column: 188W

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has recently published a report on the workings of Kosovo's criminal justice system, making a number of criticisms. The report has been submitted to the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) who will respond in due course.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is regarding the Kosovo currency. [135420]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 6 November 2000]: We supported the decision of the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) to issue an UNMIK regulation on the use of foreign currencies in Kosovo in September 1999. The regulation does not preclude the use of the Yugoslav dinar and as such does not pose a threat to FRY sovereignty.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in setting up interim self-government institutions in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [135422]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Dr. Bernard Kouchner issued a regulation on 11 August 2000 concerning self-government of municipalities in Kosovo, outlining the responsibilities, rights and duties of the municipalities and those individuals elected to serve within them.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions his Department has taken following the OSCE report 'Kosovo: A Review of the Criminal Justice System'. [135424]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 6 November 2000]: This report has been submitted to the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) who will respond in due course.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consistency of approaches to the applicable law of Kosovo's courts and authorities. [135427]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has recently published a report on the workings of Kosovo's criminal justice system, making a number of criticisms. The report has been submitted to the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) who will respond in due course.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the future of Serb military and police deployment in Kosovo. [135421]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 6 November 2000]: UN Security Council resolution 1244 confirms that an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serb military and police personnel will be permitted to return to Kosovo to

7 Nov 2000 : Column: 189W

perform certain functions as defined in annex 2 to the resolution. The return of these personnel will be subject to a separate agreement. No such agreement has yet been reached.

"Everything but Arms" Initiative

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on his Everything but Arms initiative from Caribbean Governments. [136825]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Secretary of State has not received any representations on this issue from Caribbean Governments. However we are aware of the concern of the Caribbean states with certain aspects of this proposal and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has received a letter from the President of Guyana on this subject.

Serbia

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance he has given to his Department on a request by Serbian judges for urgent international assistance with the reform of the judicial system in Serbia. [135425]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Her Majesty's Government have been active in promoting the reform of the judicial system in Serbia. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has funded a number of recent initiatives including a seminar on 23-25 August on the role of the judiciary in Serbia, run by the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe's New Serbia Forum, and two seminars run by the AIRE Centre with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The UK will continue to play an active role in this field.

Ministerial Visits (Balkans)

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit (a) Serbia, (b) Montenegro and (c) Kosovo. [135423]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 6 November 2000]: Her Majesty's Government look forward to the imminent restoration of diplomatic relations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs hopes to visit Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo in the near future.

Qualified Majority Voting

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursant to his answer of 30 October 2000, Official Report, column 238W, if he will list those areas in which the extension of qualified majority voting proposed for the Nice Treaty is in the national interest in respect of each of the Written Questions tabled for answer on 30 October by the right hon. Member for Wokingham. [136802]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Government's policy towards the IGC in general and the extension of qualified majority voting in particular is laid out in the White Paper published in February, to which I refer the right hon. Gentleman.

7 Nov 2000 : Column: 190W

---