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Lord Levy

Ms Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of Lord Levy on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, including to whom he is accountable, and on the facilities, expenses and remuneration he receives at public expense. [3200]

Mr. Straw: From time to time, Lord Levy will travel as the Prime Minister's envoy. He will report to the Prime Minister and to me.

Lord Levy receives no remuneration and travels at his own expense. The FCO provides him with logistics and administrative support, including use of an office in London and official accommodation overseas, and briefing as necessary.

United Nations Reform

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the Government have for reforming the structure of the UN. [2971]

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Peter Hain: We would like to see the United Nations Security Council reformed to make it more representative of the world today. We are one of a number of countries which support enlarging Council membership from 15 to 24, including expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent membership.

We are also working closely with EU and UN partners to follow up implementation of the report on UN Peace Operations drawn up by the Panel chaired by Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi in 2000. In particular, we are pressing for improved early warning and analysis and for more effective rapid deployment mechanisms.

We have strongly supported the UN Secretary- General's wider efforts to streamline UN activities through a results-based approach to programme, financial and human resource management.

Plan Colombia

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress of Plan Colombia and of the United Kingdom's involvement. [2379]

Mr. MacShane: It is too early to assess the impact of Plan Colombia as it is designed to produce results over a number of years. One specific goal, for example, is to reduce the cultivation, processing and distribution of illegal drugs by 50 per cent. over a six-year period (2000–06).

There is no UK Government financial involvement in Plan Colombia, either bilaterally or through the EU. No expenditure is planned by the UK Government to support the Plan. Instead, the UK is contributing to and fully supports assistance to Colombia through the European Union of 105 million euro over the next five years. The EU package will focus on measures to support human rights, long-term economic and social development, including alternative development, and an end to violence.

Burma

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the implementation of sanctions against Burma. [2817]

Mr. Bradshaw: This Government have been at the forefront of international efforts to bring about good governance, respect for human rights and a return to democracy in Burma. Sanctions have been a significant aspect of this effort. We believe multilateral sanctions are the most effective and we were instrumental last year in securing a strengthening of the EU Common Position on Burma that includes an asset freeze and visa ban for members of the Burmese regime, an arms ban and a ban on non-humanitarian aid. In the UK, this has been implemented through the Burma (Sale, Supply and Export of Goods) (Penalties) Regulation (SI 2000/1408) and Burma (Freezing of Funds) Regulation 2000 (SI 2000/1472) and the Immigration (Designation of Travel Bans) (Amendment) Order 2000. We have given a cautious welcome to recent positive developments in Burma, such as the release of some political prisoners and the lessening of the restrictions on pressure on the National League for Democracy. But we will not soften our position until there is evidence of real change in Burma.

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Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Burmese Government about continuing violations of human rights being committed against the Karen, Karenni and Shan people by the Burmese army. [2816]

Mr. Bradshaw: Contacts between British and Burmese officials are necessarily limited but we make representations to the Burmese authorities on their treatment of ethnic minorities whenever suitable opportunities arise. In January, a visit by EU Troika representatives to Burma raised with the regime this issue among other human rights concerns.

We also fully support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to Burma, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, who is encouraging the regime to move towards national reconciliation and a return to democracy. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met Razali on 26 June to discuss these issues.

Multilaterally, we have ensured that violations of human rights in ethnic minority areas are properly covered in UNCHR and UNGA, and by the ILO in its examination of forced labour in Burma.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has discussed Burma with his predecessor. [2818]

Mr. Bradshaw: I am aware of the keen interest my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary and my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) took in Burma. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I look forward to carrying on the very important task of encouraging national reconciliation, respect for human rights and a return to democracy in Burma.

India

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has had since his appointment with representatives of the Indian Government; and if he will make a statement. [2587]

Mr. Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Brajesh Mishra, Principal Secretary to Indian Prime Minister A. B. Vajpayee, and Nareshwar Dayal, Indian High Commissioner in London, on 26 June. They discussed a range of regional and bilateral issues, including the consular cases of Peter Bleach and Ian Stillman. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has also spoken on the telephone with Jaswant Singh, the Indian Foreign Minister, about regional issues.

Malaysia

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the detention without trial in Malaysia under the Internal Security Act of 10 members of the opposition party. [2590]

Mr. Bradshaw: On 10 April 2001, seven members of the opposition party were detained under the International Security Act. Since then a further three were detained under the same legislation. Two of the detainees have been released without charge and two have been released by order of the High Court. EU Heads of Mission raised

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the issue with the Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs on 17 May 2001. We have raised the matter with the Malaysian High Commission in London and hope that the situation will be resolved quickly. We and our EU partners are following the situation closely.

NORTHERN IRELAND

James Alfred Cornhill

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the outcome was of the investigation into the shooting of James Alfred Cornhill on 19 April 2000; and what views were expressed by the Police Ombudsman. [1133]

Jane Kennedy: The investigation into the shooting of James Alfred Cornhill has been completed, and the Director of Public Prosecutions has returned the file to the Police Ombudsman who is now considering the disciplinary aspects of the case. Until that process is complete the Police Ombudsman's views will not be available.

RUC (Complaints)

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the outcome was of the investigation into complaints against the RUC made by David McCombe and Padraig McCracken. [1091]

Jane Kennedy: The Police Ombudsman's investigation into the complaints has not yet been completed.

Police Weaponry

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police officers have attended overseas conferences and training events on use of less-than-lethal arms and weaponry in the past 12 months; and at what cost. [1231]

Jane Kennedy: Two Royal Ulster Constabulary officers attended a Less Lethal Seminar at Pennsylvania University in April 2001 at a cost of £3,216.

Plastic Baton Rounds

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claims have been submitted by police officers for injuries allegedly caused by faulty equipment associated with the discharge of plastic baton rounds in each of the last 10 years; how many of these claims have been settled; and at what cost. [1226]

Jane Kennedy: There have been no such claims.

Shoot-to-kill Incidents

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to rulings of the European Court of Human Rights on alleged shoot- to-kill incidents in Northern Ireland on 1 June. [1119]

Jane Kennedy: As a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Kingdom takes very seriously the findings of the European Court. The

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Government have three months from the date of the judgments to decide their response (ie by 4 August) and are considering this very carefully.

I should point out that none of the judgments found the UK to have breached Article 2 of the Convention (the right to life) in respect of the actual deaths, but found against the Government in respect of a number of procedural issues relating to post-death investigatory procedures in place at the time.

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