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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Zimbabwe

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the cases of terrorist acts against the holders of British citizenship in Zimbabwe in each of the past five years. [13399]

Mr. Bradshaw: While we continue to be concerned by the high level of violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe, we have no record of any terrorist acts against British citizens in Zimbabwe in the past five years.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations (a) his Department and (b) international organisations have made to the Government of Zimbabwe on (i) the eviction of black farm workers from their homes as a result of land reform policy and (ii) the recent attacks on and arrests of opposition MDC supporters in Matabeleland; what representations his Department has made to SADC countries concerning sending election observer missions to Zimbabwe for the presidential election; what steps he is taking to ensure that a free and fair presidential election will be held in Zimbabwe; and what conditions the UK Government have set for recognising the outcome of the Zimbabwe presidential election relating to the action of the Government of Zimbabwe in ensuring a free and fair election. [18214]

Mr. Bradshaw: We continue to encourage the Government of Zimbabwe to abide by the undertakings they made at the Abuja meeting on 6 September, including restoration of the rule of law, an end to violence and intimidation and illegal land occupations. During these representations we regularly draw attention to the plight of farm workers. The British High Commission in Harare made a public statement condemning political violence following the recent politically motivated violence in Bulawayo.

We continue to encourage the Government of Zimbabwe to create a climate conducive to free and fair elections. The presidential election process will be raised as part of the EU consultations with the Government of Zimbabwe under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. We are in regular dialogue with South African Development Community—SADC—countries on election observers and other issues related to Zimbabwe's electoral process. We are also discussing Zimbabwe's electoral process with Commonwealth partners, the US and others. The credibility of the presidential election will be questioned by the UK and the international community if the process is not demonstrably free and fair.

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Public-Private Partnerships

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the projects in his Department which have been considered as potential public-private partnerships since 1997 which have not been undertaken because the public sector comparator had a lower net present value than the public private partnership proposed; and if he will make a statement. [13432]

Mr. MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 13 November 2001, Official Report, column 607W.

It is a matter of policy, that at an early stage in the options appraisal process we consider whether a public- private partnerships approach is likely to deliver value for money. It would involve disproportionate cost to list all projects where the public-private partnership approach was considered and rejected in favour of conventional procurement.

September 11

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the costs of operations undertaken by his Department in connection with events following the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States; and if these costs will be met from his Department's budget. [16563]

Mr. Bradshaw: Since the events of 11 September, the FCO has had to react immediately to sizeable changes in the global environment. This has had a significant effect on the FCO's budget, forcing us to re-prioritise. We have incurred extra expenditure on: vital physical security for our overseas missions and the staff working in them; evacuating British citizens at risk from increased tension and violence in Pakistan; dealing with British victims of the destruction of the World Trade Centre and assisting their families; the considerable diplomatic effort to seek out and bring those responsible to justice, and to build on international coalition against terrorism; and a rapid increase in BBC World Service broadcasting in local languages in and around Afghanistan.

Current estimates put the additional cost of the crisis to the FCO this financial year around £40 million. Fee income from visas and passports may well suffer with the downturn in international travel. The last spending review significantly increased the resources of the FCO for this financial year. We are seeking to absorb as much as possible of the new requirements through re-prioritisation as well as efficiency measure. We are in discussion with the Treasury to address the shortfall in resources the FCO faces.

Iraq

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessments his Department has (a) made and (b) received of links between Iraq and the bin Laden organisation. [17254]

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Mr. Bradshaw: Al-Qaeda has contacts in several countries outside Afghanistan. We have no convincing information that any regime other than the Taliban supports al-Qaeda.

Public Appointments

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many public appointments he has made since 7 June; and if he will list them. [18736]

Mr. Bradshaw: FCO Ministers have made six new public appointments since 7 June 2001. These are as follows: Mr. Elfyn Llwyd MP, Mr. Patrick Smith and Mr. Michael Aaronson to the Westminster Foundation for Democracy; Sir Frank Berman and Andrew Bache to the Diplomatic Service Appeals Board; and Mr. Abdul Fazal Bhanji to the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission.

Osama bin Laden

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the regimes which his Department suspects of having given (a) active and (b) passive aid to the bin Laden organisation. [18259]

Mr. Bradshaw: We are not speculating that any regimes other than the Taliban support al-Qaeda. There are other countries where terrorists are able to operate. We are developing a broad counter-terrorism strategy for such countries covering diplomatic measures, counter- terrorism and law enforcement assistance, development aid, public information and media messages and intelligence.

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on what discussions his Department had prior to 11 September with Pakistan Government officials regarding Osama bin Laden. [19413]

Mr. Bradshaw: Prior to 11 September, we regularly raised our concerns about Osama bin Laden with the Pakistanis. On 13 June, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Pakistani Foreign Minister Sattar where he urged Pakistan to use their influence over the Taliban to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1333 which inter alia calls for Osama bin Laden to be handed over to justice.

Gibraltar

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [18734]

Peter Hain: I last met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar in London on 28 November. As I said in my speech in Westminster Hall on 7 November 2000, Official Report, column 91WH, both I and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary have worked hard to enable the Gibraltar Government to join the meetings under the Brussels Process. At the ministerial meeting of the Brussels Process held in Barcelona on 20 November, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and the Spanish Foreign Minister reiterated their invitation for the Chief

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Minister of Gibraltar to attend future Brussels Process ministerial meetings. As previously stated the Government will continue to stand by their commitments to the people of Gibraltar as set out in the preamble to the Gibraltar Constitution.

Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he played in arranging the meeting between Spanish officials and the First Minister of Gibraltar in Madrid; and if he will make a statement on these discussions. [20441]

Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs played no direct role in arranging the meeting between Spanish officials and the Chief Minister of Gibraltar. However, building on the climate of confidence established by the re-launch of the Brussels Process, I encouraged both parties to talk and meet, which they did.

Israel

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions attach to exports from Israel arising from agreements with the EU for (a) goods manufactured or produced in Israel and (b) goods manufactured or produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories of Palestine; and if he will make a statement. [18865]

Peter Hain: The EU/Israel Association Agreement provides for preferential access to EU markets for products originating in Israel, provided such exports meet the requirements set out in the agreement. The EU has made clear that, for the Union as well as for the international community, Israel does not include the occupied territories. The EC/PLO Interim Agreement applies to the territory of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. East Jerusalem remains covered by the preferential trade agreement unilaterally granted by the European Community in 1996.

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken to prevent Israel from labelling goods exported to the UK which have been made or produced in settlements in Palestine as manufactured or produced in Israel; and if he will make a statement. [18866]

Peter Hain: The EU has made clear to Israel, most recently at the EU-Israel Association Council on 20 November, the importance the union attaches to the correct application of all the provisions of the association agreement, including its territorial scope. The EU will continue to do its best to find a sustainable solution to the rules of origin issue, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement. Further expert discussions with Israel are likely, to address the issues involved.

On 23 November the European Commission published a notice to importers in the EC Official Journal advising importers presenting documentary evidence of origin with a view to securing preferential treatment for products originating in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights to take all necessary precautions.

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