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Falkland Islands
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to enter into discussions with Argentina about the future status of the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [19529]
Mr. MacShane: None, therefore no.
Russia
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to visit Russia. [20254]
Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Moscow on 31 October and had talks with the Russian Foreign and Defence Ministers. He met the Russian Foreign Minister again in the margins of the UN General Assembly on 10 November.
He has no immediate plans to visit Russia but remains in regular contact with his Russian counterpart.
School Places
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help civil servants receive with finding and securing places for their children in state-funded schools when returning from prolonged placements overseas. [20360]
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Mr. Bradshaw: UK-based FCO staff returning to the UK from overseas apply for places in accordance with the arrangements established by the local education authorities (LEAs) under the guidance of the Department for Education and Skills. When necessary, the FCO provide LEAs with background information about the officer's circumstances.
European Union Business
Mr. Mike Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for December and (b) major European Union events for the period between 31 December and May 2002. [20966]
Peter Hain: The information is as follows:
- 4 December—ECOFIN meeting—Brussels
- 1. Adoption of the Agenda
- 2. Approval of the list of 'A' items
- 3. Preparation for the Laeken European Council
- Report on aims and working methods in the field of pensions
- Report on structural indicators
- Report on progress concerning the fiscal package
- 4. Fiscal Package
- Taxation and savings
- Directive, including main features of a standardised form for exchanging information
- Interim reports by the member states concerned on discussions with dependent or associated territories
- Code of Conduct
- Progress report from Code of Conduct group
- 5. (Poss.) VAT invoicing (may become 'A' item)
- 6. Financial Services
- (Poss.) Financial Services Action Plan, 5 Progress report from the Commission
- (Poss.) Proposal for a Directive on financial collateral arrangements
- General approach
- Prospectus
- Presidency report on progress
- Financial conglomerates
- Presidency report on progress
- UCTIS
- Adoption
- 7. Annual report of the Court of Auditors for the financial year 2000
- Presentation by the Court of Auditors
- 8. Galileo
- Progress report
- 9. Economic situation in the air transport sector (insurance)
- Report on developments in the situation
- 10. Preparation for ministerial meeting with the candidate countries
- 11. Conference on Financing for Development
- Common Position
4 Dec 2001 : Column 218W
- 12. Other Business
- 3—Brussels—Employment and Social Affairs Council
- 4—Bruges—Culture Council (Ministerial Informal)
- 4—Brussels—Energy Council
- 5—Brussels—Industry Council
- 6–7—Brussels—Transport and Telecommunications Council
- 6–7—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council
- 10—Brussels—Research Council
- 10–11—Brussels—General Affairs Council
- 12–13—Brussels—Environment Council
- 14—Laeken—ECOFIN
- 14–15—Laeken—European Council
- 17–18—Brussels—Fisheries Council
- 18–19—Brussels—Agriculture Council.
No agendas for the above are available yet.
The following are the principle events in the EU between 1 January and May 2002 (certain relevant events are also included: the list is based on the information available at the date of issue).
(16) Evening
(17) Ministerial informal
(18) ASEM Ministerial informal
4 Dec 2001 : Column 219W
NORTHERN IRELAND
Oversight Commissioner
Phil Hope: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the latest report received from the Oversight Commissioner. [20914]
Jane Kennedy: In accordance with section 68(4)(a) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000, I have today laid a copy of the Oversight Commissioner's third statutory report for the year 2001 before this House.
Government Law and Order Policy
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Government's policy is in regard to (a) organised crime and (b) community policing in Northern Ireland. [16305]
Jane Kennedy: The Government are determined to confront organised crime in Northern Ireland and are leading the fight through the work of the Organised Crime Task Force, which I chair.
The Task Force, launched in September 2000, is a multi-agency initiative, involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland, HM Customs & Excise and others. Work is already well developed and the operational agencies have achieved significant successes. For example, on 8 November, a joint operation by Customs and police resulted in seizure of 42.6 million illicit cigarettes, the largest ever seizure in the United Kingdom.
The Government will not permit the legacy of terrorism to develop into a system of organised crime activity in Northern Ireland. However, there are no short-term fixes. The dismantling of organised crime groups takes time, expertise and commitment.
The Government and the Chief Constable accept the importance of community policing and are committed to ensuring that this is a core function of the police service and the core function of every police station. It is the Government's policy to support, in every way possible, the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, in delivering effective community policing.
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