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Zimbabwe

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts his Department has had with UK nationals in Zimbabwe concerning their safety during the present unrest. [25420]

Mr. Bradshaw: Our high commission is in regular contact with UK nationals in Zimbabwe through its network of 92 volunteer consular wardens.

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received concerning the arrest of Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai; and what action his Department is taking to investigate this matter. [25683]

Mr. Bradshaw: Mr. Tsvangirai was temporarily arrested for allegedly possessing unlicensed radio equipment. We understand that he is challenging the validity of these charges.

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account he is taking of the Democracy and Economic Recovery Act 2001 in his policy towards Zimbabwe. [25693]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act asks the President of the United States to begin immediate consultations with other Governments on possible measures against the Government of Zimbabwe. We look forward to further discussions with the US authorities, when/if the Administration sign the Act into law.

Israel

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have received from coalition partners concerning the decision by the Israeli Government to end diplomatic contact with Chairman Arafat. [25680]

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Mr. Bradshaw: The Israeli Security Cabinet declared President Arafat to be "irrelevant" on 13 December. We and our EU partners have repeatedly made it clear, as stated at the Laeken European Council on 16 December, that

"Israel needs the Palestinian Authority and its elected President, Yasser Arafat, as a partner". It remains our view that President Arafat is the only figure with whom Israel can negotiate peace.

Iraq

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has received concerning the development of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq since 1999; and if he will make a statement. [25681]

Mr. Bradshaw: Since the withdrawal of United Nations weapons inspectors in December 1998 there have been no independent inspections of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programmes. While we cannot therefore make any categorical assessment of current Iraqi capabilities, we judge that since 1999 Iraq has pressed ahead with its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programmes.

We continue to urge Iraq to allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq to disarm and monitor its ballistic missile and other weapons of mass destruction programmes as required under UN Security Council resolution 1284.

Drug Trafficking

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures he is proposing to combat international drug trafficking. [25432]

Mr. Bradshaw: We will continue to work closely with Governments and law enforcement agencies in key counties on the main trafficking routes for illegal drugs to the UK.

The installation of the Interim Authority in Afghanistan on 22 December 2001 provides a fresh opportunity to eliminate opium poppy cultivation from Afghanistan, recently the world's major producer of opium. We will work to develop and sustain the Interim Authority's co-operation with the international community in the fight against terrorism, drugs and organised crime.

EU Accession

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on British (a) business and (b) jobs of the next wave of EU enlargement. [25731]

Peter Hain: The Government consider that the next wave of EU enlargement will have significant benefits for UK business and jobs. As a result of enlargement, UK business will have access to a single market comprising up to 450 million consumers—bigger than the US and Japan combined. This huge single market should boost trade, jobs and prosperity in all EU member states. Independent research estimates that enlargement will add around £1.75 billion to UK GDP and 1.5 per cent. to the GDP of each candidate country. It is also estimated by the

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European Round Table of Industrialists that enlargement will create over 300,000 extra jobs across the EU and two million new jobs in the candidate countries.

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role Britain is playing in helping to prepare countries applying for accession to the EU. [25433]

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Luke) on 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 576W.

Kosovo

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent elections in Kosovo. [25430]

Mr. MacShane: Assembly elections were held on 17 November 2001. For the first time all the people of Kosovo were able freely to elect a representative Assembly, which met for the first time on 10 December.

Kosovo's elected politicians can now develop the new institutions of self-government in Kosovo, in partnership with the international community.

Middle East

Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what impact the recent conflict in the occupied territories has had on (a) the Lebanon, (b) Syria, (c) Jordan and (d) Egypt; and if he will make a statement. [25524]

Mr. Bradshaw: The violence in Israel and the occupied territories continues to have a destabilising effect on the middle east, and remains a source of tension around the region. It is important that the countries of the region play a constructive role in efforts to bring the parties back to the negotiating table. We will continue to play a full part in these efforts.

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with President Bush's Administration about their present and future role in securing peace in the middle east. [25423]

Mr. Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary speaks to Secretary of State Colin Powell regularly on this issue, most recently on 3 January. US engagement remains central to efforts to secure a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. We support the work of US envoy General Zinni to bring the parties back to negotiations, and will continue to work with the US and our EU partners to this end.

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made towards the Israeli Government regarding the peace process in the middle east. [25461]

Mr. Bradshaw: On 19 December the Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Sharon. Lord Levy met Prime Minister Sharon in Israel on the same day. We have made clear to the Israeli Government that they should support the Palestinian Authority's efforts to enforce a ceasefire. Israel should also withdraw its military forces and stop

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extrajudicial killings, lift closures and restrictions, freeze settlement activity and end operations directed against the infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority.

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the recent meetings in the last 12 months that have taken place between British Government Ministers and the French ambassador to the United Kingdom at which the middle east was discussed. [25460]

Peter Hain: The French ambassador has frequent contact with Ministers and a variety of issues are discussed on an on-going basis.

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the individual terrorist organisations which operate within (a) Syria and (b) Iran. [25466]

Mr. Bradshaw: Syria allows a number of terrorist organisations to operate from within its borders. These organisations include the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Popular Front for the Liberation—General Command. Hizballah also operates from within Syria. The UK has proscribed an element of Hizballah, its External Security Organisation, as terrorist. Syria is however co-operating with the international fight against terrorism and has taken some steps to rein in these organisations. Iran does not host terrorist organisations in the same way. However we have long-standing concerns about Iran's record of support for groups which use violent methods to oppose the Middle East Peace Process, including Hizballah.

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of which organisations were responsible for the terrorist attack on a bus in the West Bank on Wednesday 12 December 2001. [25465]

Mr. Bradshaw: Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack on the bus in the West Bank on 12 December.

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of which organisations were responsible for the terrorist attack in the Israeli town of Afula on Tuesday 27 November. [25464]

Mr. Bradshaw: Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the shooting in Afula on 27 November.

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