---

Palestinian Authority

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with EU Commissioner Chris Patten regarding the level of corruption in the Palestinian Authority. [160982]

Mr. Wilson: We fully support calls by the EU General Affairs Council for the Palestinian Authority to take effective measures against corruption. We welcome EU Commissioner Chris Patten's efforts to encourage greater transparency within the Palestinian Authority.

The Government regularly urge the Palestinian Authority to implement effective reforms. The Foreign Secretary last raised the issue directly with Palestinian Minister for Planning and International Co-operation, Nabil Sha'ath when they met on 1 May.

Palestinian Schools

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the Palestinian Authority regarding the content of literature in school books in Palestinian schools. [160981]

Mr. Wilson: The Government are deeply concerned by allegations of incitement through literature being used in Palestinian schools. We have sought assurances from the Palestinian Authority, that no such material is contained within the textbooks of the new Palestinian curriculum.

We urge both sides to maintain objectivity and historical accuracy in their school books and we encourage them to "educate for peace" by promoting reconciliation and greater mutual understanding.

Gaza Strip

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Palestinian Authority regarding mortar shells fired from within the Gaza Strip into Israel. [160983]

Mr. Wilson: In his telephone conversation with Nabil Sha'ath, Palestinian Minister for Planning and International Co-operation, on 18 April, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stressed that the international community was looking to the Palestinian Authority to take every possible step to halt the mortar attacks. We are in regular contact with the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel, urging them to resume security co-operation and to do all in their power to end the violence.

US Military Personnel

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many US military personnel work in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) British Overseas Territories; and if the UK-US treaties covering military co-operation proscribe any limit on deployment in the UK. [160807]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 10 May 2001]: The information requested is not centrally held and is in the process of being collated. I will write to my hon. Friend with the information as soon as it is available.

11 May 2001 : Column: 458W

Lebanon

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the Lebanese Prime Minister to discuss the presence of Hizbollah in southern Lebanon; and if he will make a statement. [160989]

Mr. Wilson: The Secretary of State has no plans at present to meet the Lebanese Prime Minister. The Government regularly urge the Lebanese Government to assert its authority fully in southern Lebanon and maintain law and order up to the "Blue Line".

Space-based Energy Weapons

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of the compatibility of space-based energy weapons systems using nuclear power with the non-proliferation treaty. [160803]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 10 May 2001]: Space-based energy weapons systems using nuclear power for non- explosive purposes would be compatible with obligations of both nuclear-weapon state and non-nuclear weapon state parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Spaced-based energy systems using nuclear power for explosives would be compatible with the obligations of nuclear-weapons state parties to the Treaty but not with the obligations of non-nuclear weapon state parties to the Treaty.

Hinduja Brothers

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed in the tete-a-tete discussions at the meeting referred to in the letter from G. P. Hinduja to the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister on 9 June 1998; and if the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) was present. [161101]

Mr. Vaz: The hon. Member for Leicester, East was not present at the 5 June 1998 meeting. Discussion was exclusively on current issues of Indian foreign policy.

Brajesh Mishra

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the date was of his meeting with Brajesh Mishra in May and June 1998; and who else was present. [161100]

Mr. Wilson: The Secretary of State met Brajesh Mishra on 5 June. The first part of the meeting was tete-a-tete. British and Indian officials sat in on the remainder of the meeting. No-one else was present.

Israel/Lebanon (Kidnappings)

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action has been taken by (a) Amnesty International, (b) the International Committee for the Red Cross, (c) the International Commissioner for Human Rights and (d) his Department in attempting to secure the release of Israelis kidnapped on the Israeli side of the Israeli-Lebanon border; [160990]

11 May 2001 : Column: 459W

(2) if he will discuss with the Government of Lebanon the whereabouts of (a) the three Israeli soldiers kidnapped on the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border and (b) the Israeli civilian kidnapped in Switzerland. [160988]

Mr. Wilson: The Government condemn hostage taking under any circumstances. On 3 May the Foreign Secretary and I met the families of the three soldiers kidnapped in occupied Syrian territory on 7 October and the reservist colonel kidnapped in Lebanon on 4 October. The Government are already doing all they can to help and have raised these cases with relevant countries in the region and will continue to do so, pressing particularly for access to the hostages for the ICRC. We also support the ICRC's wish to have access to all those held by Israel in administrative detention. We strongly support all efforts to secure the release of all hostages, particularly efforts led by the United Nations Secretary-General. We are regularly in touch with the relevant organisations but cannot answer for them.

Oslo Accords

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make statement on the honouring of commitments made at the Oslo accords by Israel and the Palestinians not to use violence as a means of furthering national aspirations. [160992]

Mr. Wilson: Since the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("Oslo 1") in 1993, both Israel and the Palestinians have consistently committed to pursuit of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement in the middle east on the basis of non-violence. The key now is to look forward. We call on both parties to commit every possible energy to bring about an end to violence. We urge them to take immediate parallel steps to break the cycle of violence and build confidence, in the context of a renewed political re-engagement, aimed at an agreement based on United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the principle of "land for peace", security for Israel within recognised borders and an end of occupation.

Treaty of Nice

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 March 2001, Official Report, column 392W, on the Treaty of Nice, if he will publish the latest version to which he has access of the consolidated versions of the treaties on European Union and establishing the European Communities. [161099]

Mr. Vaz: The latest version of the consolidated treaties is that incorporating the changes made by the Treaty of Amsterdam. It was published as a Command Paper on 29 October 1997 (Cm 3780), and is available in the Library of the House.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

Import Ban

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his oral statement of 1 February 2001, Official Report, column 524, on the banning of

11 May 2001 : Column: 460W

imports, how many of the precedents cited related to the legal grounds of (a) animal health and (b) public morality. [150876]

Mr. Nick Brown [holding answer 26 February 2001]: The then Government's stated rationale for banning imports of turkeys from France was the potential risk to animal health in relation to Newcastle disease. This argument was rejected by the European Court of Justice.

Neither of the other two cases cited related to the imposition of import bans. In one case, a judicial review against Government for not banning veal calf exports on public morality grounds was not upheld. In the other, restrictions on the ability of non-UK EU fishermen to operate vessels on the UK register were deemed unlawful by the European Court of Justice.

---