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Arms Trade

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policies his Department will adopt at the UN conference in New York in July on the trade in small arms and light weapons; and if he will make a statement. [1860]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Government attach great importance to supporting efforts to reduce the uncontrolled spread and use of small arms and light weapons.

The UK and its European partners have consistently maintained that the forthcoming UN conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects should adopt a politically binding programme of action containing concrete measures to deal with both the supply and demand side of the trade. The UK has made substantial contributions to proposals put forward by the EU on key areas of the programme of action. These include:

export control and export licensing criteria;

marking and tracing and brokering where the EU hopes for progress towards a commitment regarding the elaboration of a legally binding instrument;

management of stockpiles and surpluses, and destruction;

disarmament, demobilasation and reintegration (DD&R) of ex-combatants;

assistance for implementation of concrete measures agreed on, with a view to improving the situation on demand side, through weapons collection and destruction, capacity-building for border control, customs and law enforcement etc.

We believe that the conference should not be seen as the end but the start of a process, which must be actively followed up. The EU has supported the proposal of the preparatory committee chairman, Ambassador Dos Santos, for a major review conference in 2006, with meetings of states on a bi-annual basis to consider the national and regional implementation of the agreed programme of action.

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The Government also acknowledge the important role which NGOs and civil society can play in this field. We are working to see their interests reflected in the conference's programme of action and in its follow-up.

Mr. Ian Stillman

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the case of Mr. Ian Stillman who was recently jailed in northern India. [1855]

Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations HM Government have made to the Government of India regarding the detention of Mr. Ian Stillman; what assurances have been received from the Indian authorities about the health and well-being of Mr. Stillman; and if he will make a statement. [2219]

Mr. Bradshaw: Consular staff are monitoring Ian Stillman's welfare closely. They were successful in arranging his transfer to a jail more suited to his special needs. They will continue to ensure that he receives adequate medical treatment.

The Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about Mr. Stillman's welfare at a meeting on 26 June with Prime Minister Vajpayee's principal secretary, and also our hope that his appeal will be heard swiftly. We will continue to speak to the Indian authorities.

Drugs Trade Conference

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the conference on the global economy of illegal drugs held in London on 25 and 26 June. [2017]

Mr. Bradshaw: This conference was the first attempt in an international gathering to address aspects of the economy of the illegal drugs trade. The conference attracted over 200 participants from 60 countries, and leading speakers in their fields. The conference looked at a number of key interrelated areas in the illegal drugs economy, including factors influencing production of illegal drugs; middle markets and how best to attack them; and the wider corrosive impacts of the drugs trade internationally, including its impact on livelihoods, governance, environment, legitimate trade and conflict. The conference also addressed the relationship between the drugs trade and other areas of illegal economic activity. These are important issues for the UK's drugs strategy and for our wider foreign policy, which we intend to follow up in the coming months.

Colombia

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Colombian Government concerning paramilitary incursions into peace village communities in the Cacarica region of Colombia. [2019]

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Mr. MacShane: The British embassy in Bogota is in regular contact with the Colombian authorities on the safety and protection of vulnerable groups, including the peace communities. On 27 June, the Colombian ambassador to London wrote to me in order to outline the measures that his Government are taking to protect displaced communities in the Cacarica river basin as they return to their homes. He also assured me that the Colombian Government are aware of the need to strengthen the protection mechanisms for a civilian peace scheme in the region, and will adopt the measures necessary to protect vulnerable communities there. Also on 27 June, British embassy officials met members of the San Francisco peace community close to Cacarica, and experiencing similar serious problems, to listen to their concerns first hand. The UK and Dutch Governments are sponsoring a project to build a refuge in the town of Rio Sucio where members of the peace community can stay.

We remain very concerned about the activities of all the illegal armed groups in Colombia. We have called upon the Government of Colombia to continue their efforts to combat paramilitarism effectively and to continue taking concrete action to dismantle such groups by arresting, prosecuting and punishing all those involved.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND

THE REGIONS

London Underground

11. Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he next intends to meet Bob Kiley to discuss progress towards a partial privatisation of the London Underground. [661]

Mr. Byers: There is no question of privatising, or part privatising, the Tube. The Tube is a public service and the public sector should own and run it.

The current Tube is not good enough. It desperately needs modernising. Of course there is a role for the private sector—working for the public sector London Underground. Together they will deliver the massive improvements that are needed for a better, more reliable and more secure Tube.

I am not prepared to put safety on the Tube at risk. I therefore intend that there should be a double safety veto. Our proposals for the Tube will not go ahead unless:

First, HSE accept the new safety case for London Underground's new structure, and

Second, HSE accept the new safety case to be applied to the involvement of the private sector.

In addition under my proposals, London Underground will run the Tube and retain responsibility for safety. I shall be making this clear to Mr. Kiley when I meet him later today.

Leeds Supertram

12. Mr. Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of the funding of the Leeds Supertram. [663]

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Mr. Jamieson: Funding arrangements for the Leeds Supertram have now been agreed. I am delighted that the Government will be making a very substantial contribution towards the capital costs of this project, which are estimated at £487 million. It is another example of our delivery of the step change in public transport set out in the 10-Year Plan.

Roads (North-west England)

13. Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to improve the road infrastructure of the north-west of England. [664]

Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency is currently taking forward four major road schemes in the north-west of England and 12 route management studies. In addition, the local transport plan settlement for this year allocated some £84.5 million for local roads—an increase of 75 per cent. over the last year.

"Transport 2010: the 10-Year Plan"

14. Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress towards implementing the proposals in "Transport 2010: the 10-Year Plan". [665]

Mr. Spellar: The 10-Year Plan came into effect in April at the start of the new financial year. It is too early to draw conclusions about progress, but we remain firmly committed to the outcomes and targets it contains. We are setting in place mechanisms to secure and monitor delivery, and will produce a first progress report next year as part of the first review of the plan.

Regeneration Finance

15. Ms Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to widen access to regeneration finance. [666]

Ms Keeble: The Government's National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal sets out a programme to use mainstream funds to combat deprivation and regenerate marginalised neighbourhoods—and there will be increases of over £30 billion to these programmes over the coming three years.

Neighbourhood renewal will focus those resources on combating deprivation and meeting the needs of local people—and local people will have a say in how they are used through Local Strategic Partnerships. We recognise, though, that in the areas with the most severe deprivation extra resources will be needed to kick-start this process. This is why we have introduced the £900 million Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, as well as the Community Chests and Community Empowerment Fund to help local people get involved in the regeneration of their neighbourhoods.

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