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Drugs (Iran)

Mr. Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the anti-drugs assistance the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is planning to provide to Iran. [148038]

Mr. Battle: Most of the heroin sold on Britain's streets originates in Afghanistan, the world's largest producer of opium. Iran is a key country on the heroin route from Afghanistan to Europe. We share an interest in co-operation against the drugs trade.

The Iranians make the world's largest seizures of opiates--253 tonnes in 1999. But it has been at a cost. Around 3,000 law enforcement officers have been killed in clashes with drug traffickers in the past 20 years. They deserve our help.

The FCO has recently agreed to provide £400,000 towards the UNDCP/Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran Combined Interdiction Unified Strategy (CIRUS) programme in Iran to assist with anti drugs work on their eastern border with Afghanistan and Iran.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office assistance is ring fenced specifically for the established and successful CIRUS project.

Professor Lowry

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Portuguese Government have informed his Department about their intention to proceed with further charges against Professor Lowry; and what are the new charges likely to be. [146845]

Mr. Hain: The Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs told the Minister for Europe, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), on 18 October 2000 of the Swiss authorities' request for extradition in order for them to press charges. The Portuguese Attorney-General has authorised extradition to proceed at the end of Professor Lowry's Portuguese sentence.

29 Jan 2001 : Column: 57W

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports the British Embassy has sent about the daily routine of Professor Lowry while serving his sentence in a Portuguese prison; and how many hours per day he is locked in his cell. [146848]

Mr. Hain: Professor Lowry has freedom of movement between 08.00 and 21.00 hours. He and three others share a cell in the new wing of the prison which has two sets of bunkbeds, toilet, washbasin and shower. Professor Lowry is sports delegate for his wing and supervises the use of the gym. He has access to a television and the library. When he is not working he reads and exercises.

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contact staff from the British Embassy in Portugal have had with Professor Lowry; and what the state of his health is reported to be. [146846]

Mr. Hain: Professor Lowry is visited twice a year; his last visit was on 8 August 2000; his next is scheduled for February 2001. Professor Lowry's welfare officer has confirmed that he appears to be well, both physically and mentally. There has been no reported deterioration in his health and he has not asked for any further treatment.

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports the British Embassy in Portugal have sent on access to medical treatment for Professor Lowry; and what treatment he has recently received. [146847]

Mr. Hain: Professor Lowry collapsed in August 2000 and was transferred to the prison infirmary for treatment. He has not reported any recurring symptoms. He has seen his dentist and consultant and undergone appropriate tests. He continues to receive medical treatment from his private doctor. He remains adamant that he will not have surgery while in prison.

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has received from the Government of Portugal about Professor Lowry. [146844]

Mr. Hain: Our officials have had regular discussions with the Portuguese authority on this case, in line with normal consular practice.

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Embassy in Portugal has been informed why Professor Lowry remains in prison in that country despite having served more than half of his original sentence; and what indication there is of when he will be released. [146849]

Mr. Hain: The prison social welfare authorities will automatically begin to prepare a further application for Professor Lowry's release in February 2001 when he has served two thirds of his sentence. Conditional release in Portugal is granted at the discretion of the parole judge and becomes automatic only when five sixths of the sentence has been served.

Asil Nadir

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has recently had, and with whom, regarding Asil Nadir; and if he will make a statement. [146940]

29 Jan 2001 : Column: 58W

Mr. Vaz: The Secretary of State has had no recent discussions about Asil Nadir.

Kosovo

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet Mr. Bernard Kouchner to discuss the protection of the non-Albanian population of Kosovo and Metohija. [146431]

Mr. Vaz: Mr. Haekkerup, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative in Kosovo, called on me and senior officials on 9 January prior to taking up his appointment on 15 January. During his call Mr. Haekkerup emphasised that one of his top priorities was to improve law and order in Kosovo, including tackling ethnic violence. We welcome the priority Mr. Haekkerup has given to this and will give him our full support.

Kindertransport People

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the German Government over the issue of pensions for the Kindertransport people; and if he will make a statement. [146853]

Mr. Vaz: Foreign Office Ministers have not made representations on this issue to the German Government.

The German pensions in question take account of the EU regulations for co-ordinating social security. German officials have advised the Department of Social Security and the British Embassy on a number of occasions that they have no plans to make additional arrangements for this group of claimants.

Sir David Hannay

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the amount of per diem remuneration is of Sir David Hannay. [146605]

Mr. Vaz: Sir David Hannay receives appropriate remuneration commensurate with his expertise, which amounts to £450 per day worked. This is consistent with Treasury guidelines. He works about 20-25 days per quarter.

Nazi Victims

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress of payments out of the International Fund for Needy Victims of Nazi Persecution. [146815]

Mr. Vaz: The UK's £1 million contribution to the fund was fully allocated by 1999. Over $41 million of the total $60 million has been contributed to the fund, and over $30 million has been allocated.

All contributing Governments agree that speedy allocation and effective use of resources are top priorities. The UK has continued to urge rapid disbursement by other contributors.

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on the compensation scheme promoted by Germany for slave labour victims of the Nazis. [146816]

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Mr. Vaz: Final agreement on the fund was reached in July 2000. The German Government have pledged DM5 billion and German industry is expected to contribute the same amount, though there is still a shortfall in the latter category. The German authorities hope disbursement will begin in the first half of this year.

Claims can already be lodged: UK claimants should make their application through the International Organisation for Migration; Jewish claimants should contact the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany.

Sierra Leone

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts have been established between UNAMSIL and RUF in Sierra Leone. [146484]

Mr. Hain: Following the ceasefire agreement singed in Abuja on 10 November 2000 between the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF, UNAMSIL has held a number of face-to-face meetings with the RUF leadership. These confidence building contacts, which continue, have allowed both sides to explore the detail of the terms of the ceasefire.

Ministerial Visits

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what planned overseas ministerial visits (a) he proposes and (b) his Ministers propose to make this year; when the visits are scheduled; and if he will make a statement. [146872]

Mr. Robin Cook [holding answer 23 January 2001]: Visits already announced and agreed with host Governments are as follows.

I plan to visit the United States in February to meet Colin Powell, the Secretary of State, and other members of the new Administration, as well as members of both Houses of Congress. I plan to go to France shortly afterwards for the Franco-British Summit. Other confirmed visits for this year are to Brussels and Sweden to fulfil regular EU commitments, Italy in July for the G8 Summit, and Brisbane in October to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), plans to visit Brussels and Sweden on EU business. He plans to visit India and Bangladesh in February in connection with his specific responsibility for entry clearance issues.

Baroness Scotland is currently visiting the Falklands and Antarctica, and the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle), is visiting Mexico.

Further visits will be announced in the usual way, as plans are finalised and agreed with host countries.

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