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Departmental Expenditure

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will produce an updated set of tables in the same terms as those at the back of the last DSS departmental report (Cm 4614) to outline the future expenditure plans of his new Department. [373]

Mr. Darling: The creation of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) brings together former Department of Social Security spending plans, less that relating to War Pensions, with those for the employment functions of the former Department for Employment and Education (DfEE) (including the whole of the Employment Service). Work is continuing to quantify precise funding, particularly in relation to administration, and full details will be published in the next Departmental Report. However, previously published information relating to benefit expenditure (to be found in the Department of Social Security Departmental Report, Cm 5115, and in additional information placed in the Library, and on 1 May 2001, Official Report, column 594W remains correct except for war pensions, which are transferred to the Ministry of Defence.

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DWP will assume responsibility from DfEE for some £2.3 billion funding, including around £0.8 billion from the Employment Opportunities Fund. Further details are on page 148 of the DfEE Departmental Report (Cm 5102). In addition there will be transfers from DfEE in respect of headquarters staff.

DWP will also be transferring some £24 million to the Ministry of Defence in relation to the administration of war pensions, including the cost of the War Pensions Agency.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

UN Human Rights Treaty Monitoring

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) the deadline dates for submission of UK periodic report obligations under the United Nations system and (b) the expected dates and location of sessions of supervisory and reporting bodies are for each of the next five years. [1146]

Peter Hain: As part of its commitment to promote human rights, the UK takes seriously its obligations to submit regular and comprehensive reports to the six UN Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Bodies. Wherever possible, the UK submits reports which cover the Metropolitan Territories, as well as the Crown Dependent Territories and the Overseas Territories.

The UK's Fifth Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was submitted to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in August 1999. The UK's Sixth Report is due in August 2004.

The UK's Fourth Periodic Report under the International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights (ICESCR) was submitted to the OHCHR in December 2000. The UK's Fifth Report is due in 2005--a specific deadline has not yet been set by the OHCHR.

The UK's Third Periodic Report under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) was submitted in April 1998. Government Departments are currently compiling the UK's Fourth Report which is due in January 2002.

The UK's Fifteenth Periodic Report under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) was submitted in August 1999. A separate report covering the Overseas Territories was submitted in February 2000. The UK's Sixteenth Report (which will be an update on the Fifteenth Report) is currently being compiled and is due to be submitted in August 2001.

The UK's Second Periodic Report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was submitted in August 1999. The UK's Third Periodic Report is due in September 2004.

The UK's Fourth Periodic Report under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was submitted in January 1999. The UK's Fifth Report is due to be submitted in May 2003.

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The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has so far only published a calendar covering Human Rights Committee meetings in 2001. By the end of the year:







Full details of 2002 meetings will be published on the OHCHR website www.unhchr.ch later in the year.

Special Advisers

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list his special advisers and their division of responsibilities; [254]

Mr. Straw: The FCO Special Advisers are Ed Owen and Michael Williams. They were appointed on 19 June 2001 and are authorised to speak to the media.

Their areas of policy responsibility are:




















Arms Embargoes

Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the expiry of the UN and EU arms embargoes against Ethiopia and Eritrea. [1711]

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Peter Hain: The arms embargo and ban on related technical assistance and training imposed by the United Nations Security Council resolution 1298 (2000) against Ethiopia and Eritrea expired on 16 May 2001. The EU arms embargo imposed against Ethiopia and Eritrea by Common Position 99/206/CFSP expired on 31 May 2001. HMG were content to support the expiry of both the UN and EU embargoes in recognition of the progress made by both parties in the implementation of the Algiers Peace Agreements, including the establishment of the Temporary Security Zone.

From 1 June 2001, the Government will consider all applications for a licence to export goods and technology on the Military List on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria which I announced on 26 October 2000, Official Report, columns 199-203W. It remains our policy only to sell arms which will not be used for external aggression or internal oppression.

Export Controls (Afghanistan)

Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which goods subject to strategic export controls have recently been approved for export to Afghanistan. [1712]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Department of Trade and Industry recently issued an export licence for mine-clearance equipment for use by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA) to assist their demining activities in Afghanistan. The goods are rated as Military Listed. UNSCR 1333 (2000) which imposes inter alia an arms embargo on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan provides scope for the UN Sanctions Committee to approve of non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use to Taliban-controlled territory. The Sanctions Committee has given its approval in this case.

The granting of this export licence is fully consistent with the UN Security Council resolutions and does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU common position on arms exports to Afghanistan.

Chagos Islands

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the environmental impact assessment study of the Chagos Islands to be completed and published. [1052]

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the then Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz), on 23 April 2001, Official Report, column 124W. Phase 2 studies, which will include general but not specific environmental impact assessments, are expected to be completed within a year.

Antarctic Environmental Protocol

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions are being taken by his Department to establish a permanent secretariat for the Antarctic Environmental Protocol signatories. [1056]

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Mr. Bradshaw: We are in discussions with a number of Antarctic Treaty Parties on the question of a Secretariat. This is a matter which may arise at the forthcoming Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (9-20 July 2001, St. Petersburg, Russia), though the agenda for that meeting has not yet been confirmed.

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