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Depleted Uranium

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had from the People's Republic of China about the use of depleted uranium weapons by NATO. [146437]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 22 January 2001]: The Foreign Secretary has had no representations from the People's Republic of China on this issue.

Panchen Lama

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in identifying the location and condition of the Panchen Lama. [146721]

Mr. Battle: We take every suitable opportunity to press the Chinese authorities to allow access to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the Dalai Lama's choice as Panchen Lama, by an independent and respected figure to assess his health and living conditions. They maintain that the parents of the boy do not want him exposed to international attention. During the last round of the EU/China human rights dialogue in September 2000, the Chinese Government indicated that the boy was living in Nagqu.

During the last round of the UK/China human rights dialogue (16-18 October 2000) the Chinese side displayed two photographs purporting to be of the boy, but declined to provide copies. I have personally stressed to the Chinese ambassador in London the importance of releasing the photographs. We will press this point again during the next round of the UK/China human rights dialogue, scheduled for 12-14 February in Beijing.

China (Human Rights)

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the compliance of the Chinese Government with those agreements with human rights aspects agreed by that Government since 1997. [146717]

Mr. Battle: The Chinese Government signed the international covenants on economic, social and cultural rights, and on civil and political rights, in October 1997 and 1998 respectively.

China is not bound by the provisions of both covenants until instruments of ratification have been submitted to the UN Secretary-General. The Chinese authorities are yet to fully comply with a number of provisions, in both

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covenants, including those pertaining to freedom of religion, the use of the death penalty and establishment of free trade unions.

We continue to urge the Chinese to move promptly towards ratification and implementation of the covenants, with a minimum of reservations. We are working with them to identify areas in which we can provide technical assistance to help move this process forward.

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will support a resolution condemning the Chinese Government at the 57th meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights. [146716]

Mr. Battle: We and our partners are considering the EU's approach towards China at the forthcoming 57th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights to be held in Geneva between 19 March and 27 April. This process has not yet been concluded.

Mercenary Activity

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to publish the Green Paper on mercenary activity; and if he will make a statement. [145583]

Mr. Hain: Officials are continuing work on the Green Paper. The issue is new and complex. It is important to work through the details.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) non-governmental organisations, (b) commercial interests, companies and service organisations, (c) foreign Governments and (d) academic or other experts who his Department has formally consulted regarding the Green Paper on mercenary activity; and if he will make a statement. [145463]

Mr. Hain: In working on the Green Paper, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are drawing on material from a variety of sources, including academic writers, NGOs and others. They are also looking carefully at examples of relevant action in other countries.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the representations he has received on the (a) timing and (b) content of the Green Paper on mercenary activity from (i) non-governmental organisations, (ii) commercial interests, companies and service organisations, (iii) foreign Governments and (iv) other categories; and if he will make a statement. [145462]

Mr. Hain: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answers I gave today to his other questions on the subject of the Green Paper.

Sri Lanka

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to appoint a special envoy to hold talks with Sri Lankan leaders on the peace process; and if he will make a statement. [146870]

Mr. Hain: There are no plans. Norway has appointed an envoy who is actively engaged in trying to facilitate peace negotiations, which we fully support.

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Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to (a) Norway and (b) Sri Lanka, on the talks of the Norwegian special envoy with Sri Lankan leaders on the peace process; and if he will make a statement. [146873]

Mr. Hain: We maintain frequent contact with both Sri Lanka and Norway and will do all we can to support Norway's attempts to facilitate peace negotiations between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE.

China (Missile Base)

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation he has made to Chinese Ministers regarding the building by China of a base in the south eastern Fujian province for the deployment of advanced Russian-made S-300 ground- to-air missiles; and if he will make a statement. [146878]

Mr. Battle: We have made no representations to the Chinese Government on any such deployment.

India (Missiles)

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Indian Ministers regarding the test firing of intermediate range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads; and if he will make a statement. [146874]

Mr. Hain: We have not had the opportunity yet to have discussions with the Indian Government regarding the missile test on 17 January. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued the following statement on the day of the test:

"The UK regrets India's decision to test the Agni II Medium Range Ballistic Missile on 17 January. The UK believes that restraint in developing nuclear weapons and possible delivery systems is in the long-term interests of India and the region. The UK continues to urge India to take the steps set out in UNSCR 1172. The test sends the wrong signal within the region and beyond".

Eiman April Grant

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to (a) Philippine leaders and (b) the family of Eiman April Grant regarding her whereabouts; and if he will make a statement. [146877]

Mr. Hain: The British Ambassador and his staff in Manila have been in close contact with senior Philippine Government Ministers and officials, the military and investigators working on the case. The British embassy is also in contact with Mr. Grant to update him on developments. The embassy helped to co-ordinate a very effective operation by the armed forces of the Philippines to evacuate Eiman's British half-sister to Manila.

The embassy will continue to press for a peaceful and speedy resolution.

Aceh

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has

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made to President Wahid on his support for a new month-long truce with rebels in the province of Aceh; and if he will make a statement. [146881]

Mr. Battle: We welcome the recently agreed moratorium on violence in Aceh. We hope this will allow both sides to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, through dialogue rather than force. The European Union issued a statement on 12 January calling on both sides to abide by the terms of the moratorium on violence and to show the utmost restraint on the ground. We will continue to watch developments closely.

Kaliningrad

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to (a) Russian leaders, (b) the American Administration and (c) NATO leaders regarding the movement of short-range nuclear weapons to Kaliningrad; and if he will make a statement. [146875]

Mr. Vaz: We have discussed this issue with NATO allies, including the United States.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support international inspections of military nuclear facilities at Kaliningrad. [146876]

Mr. Vaz: Inspections of Russian military deployments in Kaliningrad can be carried out under a range of existing arms control treaties. However these do not extend to military nuclear facilities.

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