---

Lottery Funds

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) at the end of each financial year from establishment of the fund to the latest date for which figures are available, how much lottery money was held and not committed to projects by (a) the new opportunities fund, (b) the heritage lottery fund, (c) the Millennium Commission, (d) UK Sport, (e) Sport England, (f) the Community Fund, (g) the Arts Council of England and (h) the Film Council; [18167]

(2) what level of funds unallocated to good causes has been held by each of the lottery fund distributors in each of the past five years; what percentage of their total balance this represented in each year; and if she will make a statement; [17946]

(3) if she will list the amount of lottery money held and uncommitted that has been carried forward at the end of each financial year, from establishment of the fund to the latest date for which figures are available by (a) the New opportunities fund, (b) the heritage lottery fund, (c) the Millennium Commission, (d) UK Sport, (e) Sport England, (f) the Community Fund, (g) the Arts Council of England and (h) the Film Council. [18169]

Mr. Caborn: This information is not readily available and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the statistics have been collated, placing copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the average period was between a project being approved for lottery funding and first payment being made to the project, for each of the Lottery distribution bodies in the last 12 months, and if she will make a statement; [18245]

(2) what recent representations she has received concerning delays between the approval of projects by lottery distributors and the eventual transfer of funds; and if she will make a statement; [18246]

(3) what the average level of allocated, but unspent, funds has been for each of the lottery fund distributors at the end of the financial year in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement; [18247]

(4) pursuant to her answer of 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 21W, on the National Lottery, how much money which is not committed to specific projects has been held by the National Lottery

27 Nov 2001 : Column: 797W

Distribution Fund at the end of each financial year since the National Lottery's inception; what proportion of the NLDF's total balance at the end of each year this sum constituted; and if she will make a statement. [18244]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 26 November 2001]: This information is not readily available. I will however, write to the hon. Member as soon as the statistics have been collated, placing copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

13. Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions for encouraging the involvement of the female population in a post- Taliban Government in Afghanistan. [15436]

Mr. Bradshaw: One of the most appalling features of the Taliban regime was their treatment of women.

We are working closely with the UN and a wide range of other interested parties to help the Afghan people establish a broadly based Government representative of all Afghans, including women. Afghan women are participating in the talks on the future of Afghanistan that begin in Bonn today.

It is also worth noting the very real improvements in the condition of women in those parts of Afghanistan that are no longer controlled by the Taliban.

15. Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with United Nations special envoy to Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi. [15438]

Mr. Straw: I have held a number of meetings with Lakhdar Brahimi and saw his deputy, Francesc Vendrell, in Islamabad on 22 November, in each case to discuss the process of building a broad-based, multi-ethnic future for Afghanistan. I am sure the whole House will join me in paying tribute to Ambassador Brahimi's efforts, which have led to the meeting of Afghan groups taking place in Bonn today, and in hoping for a successful outcome.

18. Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for Government in Afghanistan. [15441]

Mr. Bradshaw: The international community set out its vision for Afghanistan's future in UN Security Council Resolution 1378, adopted on 14 November. This Resolution sets out the UN's central role in the political process and establishing the essential conditions for stability, peace and security in Afghanistan.

21. Mr. Rammell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on developments in Afghanistan. [15444]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Taliban is being defeated across Afghanistan. Its rule has collapsed in all but two provinces. But we should remember our primary goals are

27 Nov 2001 : Column: 798W

to bring Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda to account and to end international terrorism—the defeat of the Taliban is a step towards that.

The humanitarian situation is improving. An average of over 2,000 tonnes of food per day had been despatched since 4 November. This is four times the amount in October.

We welcome the efforts of Lakhdar Brahimi and the UN in convening today's meeting of Afghan factions in Bonn. We hope that the talks will mark the first step towards establishing the broadly based Government so vital to rebuilding the country.

26. Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of the UN in the future Government of Afghanistan. [15449]

Mr. Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I welcome the new UN Security Council Resolution 1378 (2001), adopted unanimously on 14 November, which sets out the international community's vision for the future of Afghanistan. The resolution outlines the principles that should govern the formation of a new Administration and affirms that the UN should play a central role in supporting the efforts of the Afghan people to establish their new Government.

We also welcome the UN Secretary-General's nomination of the Administrator of UNDP, Mark Malloch Brown, to lead the early recovery effort in Afghanistan. We will continue to work closely with the UK on rebuilding Afghanistan.

34. Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's intention to support a post-Taliban Government in Afghanistan. [15458]

Mr. Bradshaw: The UK fully supports UNSCR 1378 (2001) which expresses its strong support for the efforts of the Afghan people to establish a new and transitional administration leading to the formation of a government, both of which:

should be broadly based, multi-ethnic and fully representative of all the Afghan people and committed to peace with Afghanistan's neighbours,


should respect the human rights of all Afghan people, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion,


should respect Afghanistan's international obligations, including by co-operating fully in international efforts to combat terrorism and illicit drug trafficking within and from Afghanistan,


and should facilitate the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance and the orderly return of refugees and internally displaced persons, when the situation permits.

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from Afghan women about their role in the future Government of Afghanistan. [15430]

Mr. Bradshaw: While we have received no specific representations from Afghani women, we are working closely with the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, and a wide range of other interested Governments and parties to help the Afghan people establish a broad-based government representative of all Afghans, including women.

27 Nov 2001 : Column: 799W

However, the form of that government and the process leading to its establishment must be up to the Afghan people themselves, with the support of the international community. As part of this process UN Security Council Resolution number 1378, unanimously adopted on 14 November, sets out a blueprint for such a government.

Middle East

14. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with Muslim regimes in the middle east about their response to terrorism. [15437]

Mr. Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had recent discussions about the international community's response to terrorism with his counterparts from Egypt, Iran, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia and, most recently, a visit to Iran Pakistan and Bahrain on 22–23 November. Governments in the middle east, like to rest of international community, have condemned the 11 September attacks and made very clear their determination to combat terrorism.

19. Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent discussions to take forward negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. [15442]

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Roger Casale), at column 827.

22. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department is taking to ensure greater peace and stability in the middle east. [15445]

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Roger Casale), at column 827.

---