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Student Support

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the members of the working group established to serve on her Department's review of student support; and if she will make a statement. [17476]

Margaret Hodge: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced on 3 October 2001 that she is leading a review of student funding, including representatives from the Department for Education and Skills, HM Treasury and Inland Revenue.

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research she has commissioned as part of her Department's review of student support; and if she will make a statement. [17475]

Margaret Hodge: We have examined existing research on students' attitudes to higher education, their income and expenditure, as well as perceptions of debt. Since 1998 we have commissioned further research to monitor the impact of our reforms in higher education.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Western Sahara (Referendum)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the UN administration in the Western Sahara to name a date for a referendum on the future governance of the territory.

Mr. Bradshaw: The UK supported United Nations Security Council resolution 1359, which was passed unanimously on 29 June 2001. This reiterated full support for the on-going efforts of MINURSO to implement the settlement plan and the agreements by the parties to hold a free, fair and impartial referendum for the self- determination of the people of western Sahara.

The United Nations Security Council resolution made no provision for setting a date for the referendum and at this stage we do not know when it will be possible to set such a date.

The resolution does, however, reaffirm the UN's commitment to assist the parties in achieving a just and lasting solution to the question of the western Sahara. The personal envoy of the Secretary-General is currently engaged in an attempt to resolve the dispute. The special envoy is discussing with the parties the draft framework agreement (as set out in the United Nations Secretary- General's report of June 2001) which may offer a mutually agreed political solution to the dispute. He has also discussed with the Polisario their proposals to overcome the obstacles faced in the settlement plan.

Oil for Food Policy (Iraq)

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the performance of the oil for food policy regarding Iraq and the attitude of the Iraqi Government towards this policy.

23 Nov 2001 : Column: 527W

Mr. Bradshaw: The oil for food programme is the UN's largest humanitarian programme ever, worth some $12.5 billion last year alone. In his most recent report (September 2001), the UN Secretary-General concludes that the oil for food programme has made a considerable difference to the lives of ordinary Iraqis and, in spreading beyond the food and medicine sectors, to the rehabilitation of Iraq's civilian infrastructure.

These achievements have been made despite the continuing efforts of the Iraqi regime to hamper the oil for food programme. For example, around $2 billion of funds lie unspent by Iraq in UN accounts and the Iraqi Central Bank consistently holds up the delivery of around $1 billion-worth of goods. Iraq continues to refuse to allow UN officials to enter Iraq to discuss a cash component for sectors identified by the UN Secretary- General as being critical, such as health, education and water and sanitation.

Iraq (Sanctions)

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the impact of sanctions on the access of Iraqi citizens to clean water; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Bradshaw: We regularly receive parliamentary and public correspondence on all aspects of sanctions on Iraq, including the water and sanitation sector.

Since 1990, the UK has donated over £100 million of humanitarian aid to Iraq (including £5.5 million this year) for projects which include the rehabilitation of water and sanitation infrastructure. In addition, earlier this year the EU agreed a 13 million euro aid package for projects which include the provision of clean drinking water.

By contrast, the Iraqi regime continues to hamper all aspects of the oil for food programme. At a time when around $2 billion lies unspent by Iraq in the UN escrow account, Iraq has, for example, cut spending in this sector by 18 per cent. in 2001 compared to last year. Iraq continues to refuse to allow UN officials to enter Iraq to discuss a cash component for sectors identified by the UN Secretary-General as being critical, one of which is water and sanitation.

International Coalition (Afghanistan)

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries that support the international coalition's actions in Afghanistan.

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 20 November 2001, Official Report column 182W.

EU Political and Social Affairs Committee

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on activities being undertaken by the EU Political and Social Affairs Committee. [14810]

23 Nov 2001 : Column: 528W

Peter Hain: The European Union Political and Security Committee meets regularly in Brussels, usually twice a week, to discuss current foreign policy issues and questions relating to the European security and defence policy.

Gibraltar

Mr. MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy that change in the constitutional status of Gibraltar will occur only after the agreement of the majority of the resident community. [16411]

Peter Hain: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 26W.

Poland

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Poland about their expulsion of the representative of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. [17037]

Peter Hain: It is not for Her Majesty's Government to intervene in bilateral matters of this kind between two NATO allies. Poland has given full support to the international effort against terrorism. The Polish President hosted a conference for regional Prime Ministers on 6 November to discuss concrete anti-terrorism measures.

Kosovo

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has had since October regarding the future of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement on the result of the recent elections in the province. [16813]

Mr. MacShane [holding answer 22 November 2001]: The elections were a landmark in Kosovo's development as a multi-ethnic, democratic and tolerant society. I look forward to this diversity and tolerance being reflected in Kosovo's first truly democratic and representative Government.

The Assembly elections on 17 November, in which all of Kosovo's communities participated, took place peacefully. Both the Council of Europe observer mission, led by a British expert, Owen Masters, and the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly delegation, led by my right hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George), declared the elections free and fair.

According to preliminary results issued by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) won 46.29 per cent. of the vote, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) won 25.54 per cent., the Serb coalition "Return" won 10.96 per cent. and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) received 7.82 per cent. Final results should be known by 24 November.

23 Nov 2001 : Column: 529W

Correspondence

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford of 26 July on his constituent Mr. Grant Davis. [16825]

Mr. Bradshaw: I wrote to the hon. Member on 29 October.

Afghanistan

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions will be given to British troops relating to the protection of local people from violence perpetrated by future governing regimes. [16666]

Mr. Hoon: I have been asked to reply.

Wherever they are engaged, British forces are required to act in accordance with national and international law.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Consultation Documents

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many consultation documents were issued by his Department from (a) 15 October to 14 January, (b) 15 January to 14 April, (c) 15 April to 14 July and (d) 15 July to 14 October in each year from 1996. [12879]

Dr. John Reid: The information requested is as follows:

Number of consultation documents issued

	15 October to 14 January	15 January to 14 April	15 April to 14 July	15 July to 14 October
1996–97	1	2	—	1
1997–98	5	1	1	—
1998–99	—	2	1	1
1999–2000	—	3	1	—
2000–01	3	2	1	1

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