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Immigration and Asylum
Mr. Malins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will publish the names and addresses of the solicitors' firms and other agencies which have been awarded block contracts by the Legal Aid Board to give advice, assistance and representation in immigration and asylum cases. [101295]
Mr. Lock: The Legal Aid Board has only recently offered contracts in immigration and asylum work to solicitors and other agencies and the exact number of contracted providers will not be known until the end of December 1999. Almost 500 contracts have been offered and the Board expects a high proportion of them to be taken up. From January 2000, the Board will be able to provide information on those contracted to do immigration and asylum work. It would not be right to publish the names and addresses of firms and agencies who have been offered contracts, but who have not yet decided to accept them, because to do so would be breaking the commercial confidentiality held between the Board and the suppliers. The names and addresses of those solicitors firms and other agencies awarded contracts will be placed in the Library in January 2000 and will also be set out in the Community Legal Service Directory. The Directory is expected to be published in April 2000.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Antartic Environmental Treaty
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards ratification of the Antarctic Environmental Treaty; and if he will make a statement. [100806]
Mr. Hain:
The Environmental Protocol to the Antartic Treaty and its Annex I to IV entered into force on 14 January 1998. The United Kingdom's instrument
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of ratification of the Protocol was deposited on 25 April 1995. To give effect to the Protocol in UK law, the various Sections of the Antartic Act (1994) were brought into force between 1 November 1995 and 14 January 1998.
The fifth Annex to the Protocol, dealing with the Antartic protected areas system, is anticipated to enter into force in 2000, following approval by four remaining Antartic Treaty Parties. The UK approved V Annex in May 1996.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions he has taken to promote a peace process in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [100802]
Mr. Hain:
We believe a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka can only be reached through a political settlement. We have made clear that we stand ready to help in the resolution of the conflict if both sides ask us to play a role.
Mr. Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Burma regarding (a) human rights, (b) religious freedom and (c) the detention of James Mawdsley. [100712]
Mr. Battle:
Our Ambassador in Rangoon frequently raises our concerns with the Burmese authorities about human rights, including religious freedom, most recently with the Burmese Foreign Minister on 16 November. The UK also co-sponsored the UN General Assembly resolution adopted on 19 November, condemning the human rights violations and urging the Burmese regime to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedom. Our Ambassador in Rangoon, accompanied by Mrs. Mawdsley, visited James in prison on 20 November and remains in close touch with the Burmese authorities on his case.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he raised matters relating to the Russian military activity in Chechnya and
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compliance with the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and additional protocols of 1977 at the OSCE Istanbul summit; and if he will make a statement. [100837]
Mr. Vaz:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has raised our concerns on Chechnya with Foreign Minister Ivanov, including at the OSCE Istanbul summit. We and our EU partners have reminded all parties to the conflict of the necessity to observe international humanitarian law.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Russian authorities over the invasion of Chechnya; and if he will make a statement. [101193]
Mr. Vaz:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had regular discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov, most recently in a telephone conversation on 3 December, urging that Russia should seek a negotiated political settlement to the conflict. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has also written to the Russian President and Prime Minister underlining our concerns.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the development of a Northern Dimension in EU policy; what areas are covered; what policies are concerned; and what budgets are involved. [101003]
Mr. Vaz:
The development of a Northern Dimension to EU policy has progressed under the Finnish Presidency. I attended a conference in Helsinki on 16 November. The Commission are now drafting an Action Plan. Key policy areas concerned are energy, environment, nuclear safety, transport and cross-border co-operation. Activities will be financed through the EU PHARE, TACIS and INTERREG programmes.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) national and (b) EU programmes are in progress to encourage states to abolish the death penalty. [101007]
Mr. Hain:
The United Kingdom opposes the death penalty in all circumstances. Together with EU partners, we regularly call upon all states to abolish it. Where the death penalty is retained, we urge states to apply it only for the most serious crimes and to observe international minimum standards such as the non-execution of minors, pregnant women or the insane.
The UK, along with its EU partners, regularly carries out demarches in a number of countries including most recently, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, the USA, Iran, Ukraine, the Philippines and Uganda.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future role of the Deputy Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers. [101005]
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Mr. Vaz:
The Deputy Secretary-General will be responsible for the day to day running of the Council Secretariat and supporting the Secretary-General as appropriate.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the development of a European Union Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe; what finances are involved; which Directorate-Generals are involved; which countries are concerned; what is the purpose of this agreement; what representations he has received from concerned parties; and what Common Financial and Security Policy considerations are covered; [101011]
Mr. Vaz:
The founding document of the Stability Pact for South-East Europe places the pact under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The Special Co-ordinator for the Stability Pact (Bodo Hombach) was appointed by the European Union, after consultation with OSCE Chairman in Office and other Pact participants.
The Office of the Special Co-ordinator is in Brussels. The Office currently has 29 staff, many secondees from participant countries (including the UK). We anticipate that the UK's contribution to cover the costs of the inaugural Summit meeting of the Stability Pact, and the costs incurred in supporting the EU's Special Representative for the Stability Pact until 31 December 1999, will be approximately £225,000.
The Pact brings together the countries of the region, the EU, the USA, Russia, a range of other countries, many international organisations and International Financial institutions. It has been stressed at all Stability Pact meetings that there is a role for FRY when conditions permit. Meanwhile, Montenegro is fully involved in the Pact's work.
The Pact aims to promote peace, stability and democracy in the region. The EU plays a leading role in the Pact. But other international organisations and the IFIs also have a critical role to play. The Pact's strength is as a catalysing and co-ordinating organisation. It is not intended to be a grant-giving body. We will continue to support the implementing agencies (EU, OSCE, IFIs, etc.) through our regular contributions and on a case-by-case basis.
The UK has played an active role in the first meetings of the Regional Table and three Working Tables (covering Democracy/Human Rights, Economic Reconstruction/ Development/Co-operation and Security Issues). These and other meetings and regular bilateral contacts enable us to have a full exchange of views with all Pact participants and the Special Co-ordinator on all aspects of the Stability Pact process.
There was an informal meeting of Stability Pact Foreign Ministers in the margins of the OSCE Summit in Istanbul on 18 November. This provided a useful stock-taking opportunity. Overall progress has been good.
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But the Stability Pact has been in existence for less than six months and although early wins are important, sustainable progress in the long-term is the real prize.
(2) what staff will be required for the European Union Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe; at what cost; what nationalities will be eligible to join; and from which institutions the Special Co-ordinator will be chosen. [101012]
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