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Commonwealth Development Corporation
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress towards creation of the Commonwealth Development Corporation public private partnership. [102476]
Clare Short: CDC was transformed into a public limited company (with the name "CDC Group plc") on 8 December. I will place copies of the company's memorandum and articles of association, and of its investment policy and statement of business principles, in the Library of the House.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Entry Clearance Officers
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what audit is done on the performance and operation of entry clearance officers in British embassies and consulates. [101910]
Mr. Vaz: The performance and operation of individual entry clearance officers (ECOs) in overseas Posts is assessed in the first instance by their Entry Clearance Managers (ECMs). ECMs are required to review all refusal decisions taken by ECOs within 24 hours, and to review a percentage of visas issued within a defined timescale.
In common with all FCO staff, ECOs, both UK based and locally engaged, receive annual appraisals of performance which are carried out by Line Managers.
As part of the overall management of the entry clearance operation overseas, the FCO's Migration and Visa Division (MVD) monitors key performance indicators from data sent by overseas posts in monthly and annual statistical returns.
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The data allow the Division to monitor and analyse Posts' and ECO's performance to ensure that best use is being made of available resources.
In addition, MVD carries out operational reviews of Entry Clearance Sections. These, together with Reviews carried out by Internal Audit teams and the Management Consultancy Service of the FCO, provide a further means of monitoring the performance of Entry Clearance staff and Posts.
The Independent Monitor (Asylum and Appeals Act 1993), Dame Elizabeth Anson DBE, JP, DL, also carries out independent checks of applications refused which do not carry a right of appeal. Her Annual Report is laid before Parliament.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training is made available to foreign nationals working in the entry clearance offices of British embassies and consulates. [101911]
Mr. Vaz:
All entry clearance officers, regardless of nationality, attend an initial three week training course in London.
Locally engaged clerical staff and other support staff receive desk training in their overseas Posts supplemented by distance learning packages supplied by the FCO. Many also benefit from attendance on our three day regional training courses conducted in all regions of the world on a three year cycle by visiting training staff from London. Where numbers merit it, separate training is provided for interpreters.
Mr. Tony Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of whether investing in the National Ignition Facility is consistent with Britain's obligations under (a) the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and (b) the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; and if he will make a statement. [102130]
Mr. Hain:
HMG are fully committed to fulfilling our obligations under the NPT and the CTBT. This investment is fully consistent with those obligations and will ensure that the United Kingdom has the capability to underwrite the integrity of our nuclear warheads without recourse to nuclear testing.
Mr. Tony Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with colleagues prior to the Government's decision to invest in the National Ignition Facility; and if he will make a statement. [102129]
Mr. Hain:
None. The decision to invest in the National Ignition Facility was taken by the Secretary of State for Defence.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on human rights issues to the Government of Ghana in the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [101974]
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Mr. Hain:
Over the last two years, we have regularly raised our concerns over the Trokosi system with the Ghanaian Government and with the Ghanaian High Commissioner in the UK. We maintain contact with the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice in Ghana and have supported projects promoting human rights. We continue to monitor the human rights situation and welcome information from NGOs on human rights in Ghana.
Mr. Grieve:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what currency the total of each salary paid to employees of his Department is expressed on his Department's computer systems. [102066]
Mr. Hain:
Details of salaries paid to UK based staff are not held on the FCO's computer systems. Salary calculations are carried out by use of a private sector bureau. Employee pay slips show net salaries in sterling and the equivalent Euro amount.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ministry of Defence on the establishment of an arms broker company list; and if he will make a statement. [101925]
Mr. Hain:
The Government are considering the question of controls on the involvement of UK persons in the trafficking or brokering of arms and other goods controlled for strategic reasons as part of the review of the proposals in the White Paper on Strategic Export Controls of July 1998, in the light of comments made by respondents to the White Paper. The Government will announce proposals for new export control legislation following conclusion of the review.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning last month's meeting of the Working Group on Arms Exports on the issue of the control of arms brokers. [101927]
Mr. Hain:
The CFSP Working Group on Conventional Arms Exports met on 25 November and discussed a range of issues relating to arms transfers, including possible controls on trafficking and brokering. There was widespread recognition of the need for EU member states to give serious attention to the problem of trafficking and brokering. Member states also acknowledged, however, the potential difficulties of uniform EU-wide action, given their different national approaches to regulation of the arms trade and to the question of extraterritorial legislation, as well as the need to consider the inter-pillar implications of any new controls. The Working Group agreed to exchange further views on how to take forward discussion of this issue under the Portuguese Presidency. The UK will continue to play a constructive role.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Indonesian Government regarding West Papua and Aceh. [101924]
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Mr. Battle:
We maintain a regular dialogue with the Indonesian Government through which we discuss a range of issues, including the situations in Irian Jaya and Aceh. Our Embassy in Jakarta monitors closely events in Irian Jaya and Aceh, including by periodic visits to the provinces. Teams from the Embassy last visited Irian Jaya and Aceh on 25 November- 2 December and 22-24 November respectively, where they met senior officials, opposition leaders, non- governmental organisations and human rights groups. I last met the Ambassador on 25 November and discussed these matters with him.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for what reasons the Acton and Kensington Advisory Committee on Appointment of General Commissioners of Income Tax has been without a chairman since 1997. [101724]
Jane Kennedy:
The Acton and Kensington Advisory Committee on General Commissioners of Income Tax has been without a chairman since 1997 following the failure of the Committee to recommend a successor. The work of the Committee is being undertaken by the Lord Chancellor's Department while arrangements for the future are being considered.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many general commissioners of income tax there were in the Acton and Kensington area on (a) 1 April 1996, (b) 1 April 1997, (c) 1 April 1998 and (d) 1 April 1999. [101725]
Jane Kennedy:
The number of general commissioners of income tax in the Acton and Kensington area on the dates specified were:
Jane Kennedy:
There are three without chairmen: Dyfed Ceredigion Advisory Committee, Acton and Kensington Advisory Committee and Westminster and Southwark Advisory Committee.
1 April 1996--40
1 April 1997--40
1 April 1998--40
1 April 1999--39.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many of the advisory committees on appointment of general commissioners of income tax in England and Wales are without chairmen. [101726]
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