---

Conference against Racism

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will represent the Government at the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban. [5077]

Peter Hain: A final decision on UK representation at the World Conference Against Racism has not yet been taken.

Westminster Foundation for Democracy

Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy will be available. [5981]

Peter Hain: The foundation has continued its crucial work in building democracy overseas, through a variety of targeted programmes ranging from the fostering of good governance to the promotion of civil society. The demands have been great, and the foundation has had some notable successes. The highlight was their work in Serbia where, through a wide-ranging programme of work, they helped the Serbian people assert their democratic rights. Work elsewhere in the Balkans, Africa and central and eastern Europe has also continued to bear fruit. In 2000–01 the foundation received a grant-in-aid of £4,155,000 from the FCO. Copies of the annual report have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Hong Kong

Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will publish the next report to Parliament on Hong Kong and the Sino-British Joint Declaration. [5982]

Mr. MacShane: The ninth report in this series covering the period January to June 2001 was published today and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. A copy of the report is also available on the Foreign and

19 Jul 2001 : Column: 425W

Commonwealth Office website (www.fco.gov.uk). The report includes a foreword by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. I commend the report to the House.

Yugoslavia

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made to EU sanctions in relation to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [5983]

Peter Hain: In its conclusions of 22 January 2001, the EU General Affairs Council welcomed the free and fair conditions in which the legislative elections in Serbia in December 2000 had been held. Their outcome confirmed the determination of the people of Serbia to continue the consolidation of democracy in their country. It was decided that restrictive measures should therefore be confined to the former President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Mr. Slobodan Milosevic, his family, and persons indicated by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

On 26 February 2001, the list of those affected by the EU visa ban was amended from 600 to 13 to fall in line with this decision. On 19 June 2001, the EC adopted Council Regulation (EC) 1205/2001 reducing the number of persons subject to Council Regulation (EC) No. 2488/2000, maintaining a freeze of funds in relation to Mr. Milosevic and those persons associated with him, to the same list of persons.

UK implementing legislation will be amended to take account of EC Regulation 1205/2001.

Annual Reports

Mr. Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report on Strategic Export Controls will be published. [5984]

Mr. Bradshaw: The 2000 annual report on Strategic Export Controls will be published at 10 am on 20 July. The report marks a further step forward in this Government's commitment to transparent and responsible controls on British strategic exports. It includes more detail on export licensing decisions and policy than in previous years, including data on surplus small arms destroyed by the Government and the number of small arms covered by standard individual export licences agreed in 2000. It will be available on the FCO website and through the Stationery Office.

Diplomatic Immunity (Offences)

Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serious offences were allegedly committed in 2000 by persons entitled to immunity by virtue of their employment by a diplomatic mission or an international organisation, and by their dependants. [5985]

Mr. MacShane: From a community of over 19,500 persons entitled to immunity, 17 serious offences, allegedly committed by such persons, were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2000. "Serious offences" are defined in accordance with the 1985 White Paper on Diplomatic Immunities and Privilege—ie as offences that would, in certain circumstances, carry a penalty of 12 months' or more imprisonment.

19 Jul 2001 : Column: 426W

China

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of China regarding the treatment of Falun Gong members and their families. [4858]

Mr. MacShane: We raise our concerns about the harsh treatment and detention of Falun Gong adherents with the Chinese authorities at every appropriate opportunity including the twice-yearly UK and EU human rights dialogues. We did so most recently during talks in July in Beijing between senior officials on human rights issues.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to review the policy of critical engagement with the Chinese Government. [4857]

Mr. MacShane: The Government's strategy of encouraging and supporting China's closer integration in the international system was endorsed by the Foreign Affairs Committee in its report of November 2000 (HC 574-I). We believe that the most effective way for helping to bring about long-term and positive change in China is through engagement. At the same time, we criticise China where necessary, including over its human rights record.

UN Register of Conventional Arms

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom submitted its 2000 return to the UN Register of Conventional Arms; and if copies of the return will be placed in the Library. [5358]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Government submitted the UK's return to the UN Register covering conventional arms transfers in calendar year 2000 on 11 July. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

World Service

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason BBC World Service broadcasts are no longer available via short wave in North America; and what percentage of the North American land mass is now within broadcast range of the World Service. [5102]

Mr. MacShane: The BBC World Service has stopped short wave broadcasts to North America because audiences there listen mainly on FM and the internet. The impact on audience figures will be reviewed next year. The funding released will help extend the World Service's global reach through new services, including short wave where it is needed. World Service broadcasts are available to the whole of North America on the internet and on FM and medium wave through over 230 public radio stations.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Church Buildings (Maintenance)

Paul Flynn: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2001, Official Report,

19 Jul 2001 : Column: 427W

column 17, on Church Buildings (Maintenance), how much has been invested in the maintenance of church buildings in each of the last five years; and what has been the percentage increase in real terms. [5891]

Mr. Bell: The repair and maintenance of the Church of England's 16,250 churches are the responsibility of individual parochial church councils.

A survey conducted for the Council for the Care of Churches estimated a total repair cost in 1998 of £123 million for such buildings. A study commissioned by the Churches Main Committee, based on a survey of a sample group of churches of all denominations in 1999, broadly supported a similar figure.

Comparable figures for earlier years cannot readily be given as the basis on which that information is collected has changed during the five-year period.

HEALTH

Annual Reports

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency will publish its annual report and accounts. [5979]

Ms Blears: The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency's annual report and accounts have been published today and copies have been placed in the Library.

Mr. Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the 2000–01 annual report and accounts of the Medical Devices Agency. [6036]

Yvette Cooper: We have received the report and accounts of the Medical Devices Agency and copies have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the annual report and accounts of the NHS Pensions Agency. [6042]

Mr. Hutton: We have approved the report and accounts which have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of section 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.

Copies have been placed in the Library.

---