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Syria

Mr. Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts he has made to ensure that arms sales to Syria do not fall into the hands of (a) Hizbullah, (b) Hamas and (c) Islamic Jihad. [155995]

Mr. Wilson: As for all other countries, we consider all applications for licences to export military equipment to Syria on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, taking careful account in case of the nature of the equipment and the proposed end-use and end-user. If there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression, external aggression or diverted to an undesirable end-user the licence is refused.

Opinion Polls

Mr. St. Aubyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) quantitative and (b) qualitative analytical work his Department has commissioned from GGC/NOP since 1 May 1997; and what was (i) the cost of the contract and (ii) the specific nature of the work commissioned. [155662]

Mr. Wilson [holding answer 28 March 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which the then Minister of State, Mr Fatchett, gave to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan), on 2 April 1998, Official Report, column 630W.

Iran

Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has

3 Apr 2001 : Column: 133W

had with his European colleagues regarding the inter- ballistic missile capability of Iran; and if he will make a statement. [156068]

Mr. Wilson: I have not recently raised Iran's ballistic missile capability with European colleagues, but we remain concerned by Iran's development and testing of the Shabab-3 ballistic missile which has a range of 1,300 kms. We regularly engage the Iranian authorities on non-proliferation issues, and have urged Iran to refrain from the further development of such missiles, while understanding Iran's legitimate security concerns. We continue to work with our European partners on missile proliferation issues through the Missile Technology Control Regime.

Falun Gong

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Chinese Government about its attitude towards practitioners of Falun Gong. [156408]

Mr. Battle: We take every appropriate opportunity to raise with the Chinese authorities our concerns about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners. I did so with the Chinese Ambassador on 30 November 2000. During the sixth round of the UK/China human rights dialogue held in Beijing on 12-14 February, we pressed the Chinese Government to cease actions against Falun Gong adherents which contravene international human rights standards including the excessive use of force, and of administrative detention and psychiatric institutions.

I also spelt out the UK's concerns on human rights in China, including the treatment of Falun Gong adherents, in my address at the UN Commission on Human Rights on 22 March.

Holocaust Denial

Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Lebanese Prime Minister on the planned conference by the Institute of Historical Review on 31 March regarding Holocaust denial. [156440]

Mr. Vaz: The conference has been banned by the Lebanese Government, following representations by the EU, and will not now take place.

Iraq

Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will publish his review of the sanctions imposed on Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [156775]

Mr. Wilson: We continue to discuss Iraq policy with the US, other key partners and countries in the region. We wish to ensure the most effective policy to prevent Iraq from re-equipping its armed forces and re-building its WMD while minimising the effects of UN controls on the Iraqi people. Any adjustments to our policy would of course be announced.

Visa Applications

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if (a) he, (b) the Permanent- Under Secretary and (c) the Director for the Public

3 Apr 2001 : Column: 134W

Departments was notified (i) orally and (ii) in writing about the Minister for Europe's decisions to reverse visa refusals. [156530]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 2 April 2001]: I have overturned visa refusals only at the request of right hon. and hon. Members, if I am satisfied that the applicants qualify under the Immigration Rules. In such cases the Joint Entry Clearance Unit notifies in writing relevant parts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the right hon. or hon. Member is notified in writing.

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the effectiveness of the work of entry clearance officers, with particular reference to the refusal of visa applications. [156528]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 2 April 2001]: No, I am very satisfied with the practices and procedures which have been in place over the last four years.

The work of entry clearance officers is kept under constant review by entry clearance managers, who have a specific responsibility for reviewing all visa refusals.

Visa refusals either carry a right of appeal to the Independent Appellate Authority or are subject to scrutiny by the Independent Monitor appointed under the Immigration Appeals Act 1993 to monitor refusals with no right of appeal. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office Joint Entry Clearance Unit carries out regular reviews of Entry Clearance Sections overseas.

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, in respect of each visa application approved, following initial refusal by the Minister for Europe, (a) the name of the hon. Member in whose constituency the applicant's sponsor lived, (b) the grounds stated in the notice of refusal on which the application was initially refused, (c) if (i) a second and (ii) a subsequent interview was conducted following the Minister of State's intervention, (d) the written terms under which the Minister of State instructed the entry clearance post to issue the visa, (e) if, after the original refusal, the entry clearance post stated that they continued to believe that the entry clearance should be refused, (f) if the applicant (1) overstayed the terms laid down in the leave to remain granted when they first arrive in the UK and (2) subsequently extended their stay and (g) if entry clearance posts notified the Migration and Visa Division (A) orally and (B) in writing of their concerns over the Minister's decisions to reverse visa refusals. [156527]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 2 April 2001]: It is not our practice to comment on individual visa cases. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 22 March 2001, Official Report, columns 316-17W

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which hon. Members have made representations to the Minister for Europe regarding visa refusals; and how many of these refusals have been overturned. [156199]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 30 March 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 22 March 2001, Official Report, columns 316-17W.

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HEALTH

Departmental Advertising Campaigns

Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what major advertising campaigns his Department is carrying out; and what the cost and duration of each is. [154261]

Ms Stuart: Advertising is often the most cost-effective way to communicate information to the maximum number of people as quickly as possible. Each campaign is evaluated for cost efficiency and campaign effectiveness.

The campaigns carried out in the quarter ending March 2001 are shown in the table.

Campaign	Duration 2001	2000-01 (planned spend) £ million
Childhood immunisation	January-March	0.47
National Drugs Helpline	January-February	0.48
National Health Service careers including nurse recruitment	February-March	4.00
NHS Direct--television advertising	March	0.50
Organ donation	January-March	0.49
Teenage pregnancy	January-March	1.03
Smoking
Adult tobacco education	January-March	4.39
Pregnant smokers	January-March	0.28
Winter	January	0.42

Ministerial Meetings

Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ministerial meetings with hon. Members have been cancelled by Ministers since 1 January. [155239]

Ms Stuart: Two meetings have been cancelled and are yet to be rearranged including one with the hon. Member.

A number of other meetings have been rearranged.

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