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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Non-career Civil Servants

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many non-career civil servants are employed in his Department and at which grade; how many non-career civil servants have passed the ADC; and how many non-career civil servants he has appointed since 11 June 2001. [27480]

Mr. Bradshaw: The FCO recruits some members of staff on fixed term contracts, which is what we understand by the term "non-career civil servants". Staff on fixed term appointments are employed on civil service terms and conditions, but their contract of employment has a fixed end date. This category does not cover staff seconded from the private sector. 22 staff are employed on fixed term contracts: two in the senior management structure; 20 in the delegated grades.

No staff on fixed term appointments have attended an Assessment and Development Centre. Four such staff have been appointed since 11 June 2001.

Southern Rhodesia Act

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all orders made under section 3(1)(b)(i) of the Southern Rhodesia Act 1979, stating the purpose of each order and its duration. [27749]

Mr. Bradshaw: Four orders have been made under section 3 of the Southern Rhodesia Act 1979.

The Southern Rhodesia (Expiring Orders) (Consequential Provisions) Order 1979 (SI 1979 No.1445) made provision consequential on the lapse of a number of orders made under section 2 of the Southern Rhodesia Act 1965. The order contained provisions relating to the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia Orders 1965 and 1967, to proceedings against, and liabilities of, the Government of Rhodesia, to the liability of the registrar and trustees of the sinking fund of any stock issued by that Government or for which that Government were responsible and to the records relating to such stock. The order was revoked on 7 December 1979 and replaced by the Southern Rhodesia (Legal Proceedings and Public Liabilities) Order 1979 (SI 1979 No. 1601).

The Southern Rhodesia (Legal Proceedings and Public Liabilities) Order 1979 (SI 1979 No.1601) replaced the Southern Rhodesia (Expiring Orders) (Consequential Provisions) Order 1979; the subject matter being the same as the order it replaced. The order is still in force and was modified by the Zimbabwe (Independence and Membership of the Commonwealth) (Consequential Provisions) Order 1980 (SI 1980 No. 701) under powers in the Zimbabwe Act 1979.

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The Southern Rhodesia Constitution (Interim Provisions) Order 1979 (SI 1979 No.1571) made temporary provision for the Government of Southern Rhodesia. The legislative and executive powers, and the prerogative of mercy, were vested in a Governor who could give directions as to the authorities by whom executive powers may be exercised. The order also made provision for the revocation or suspension of a number of earlier constitutional provisions and for the suspension of the appeals to Her Majesty in Council. The order was revoked on 20 March 1980 by the Zimbabwe Constitution (Transitional, Supplementary and Consequential Provisions) Order 1980 (SI 19870 No.395).

The Southern Rhodesia (Sanctions) (Amnesty) Order 1980 (SI 1980 No.565) makes provision for an amnesty, and for discontinuance of criminal proceedings, in respect of offences against certain measures under section 2 of the Southern Rhodesia Act 1965, the United Nations Act 1946 or the enactments specified in Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the order, by which effect is given to resolutions of the United Nations Security Council providing for the imposition of economic or other sanctions against Southern Rhodesia. The order is still in force.

Religious Persecution

Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to produce an annual report on the observance of human rights worldwide, with particular reference to religious freedom; and if he will make a statement. [28606]

Peter Hain: Promotion of human rights, including freedom of thought, conscience and religion, is at the heart of our foreign policy. We condemn instances where individuals are persecuted because of their faith or belief, wherever they happen and whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned.

Human rights are inter-related and interdependent. In practice, violations of the right of freedom of religion are often accompanied by violations of other rights; for instance, of freedom of speech and association, freedom from torture and the right to a fair trial. Protecting and promoting freedom of religion is most effective when it is done in the context of the promotion and protection of other human rights.

The Government were pleased to lay before Parliament their fourth Annual Report on Human Rights on 17 September 2001. The report details what the UK has done to promote human rights abroad. It included a section on freedom of religion in the chapter dealing with democracy and diversity. The section sets out some of the action that we have taken to promote religious freedoms in, for example, Turkmenistan, Pakistan and China.

Iraq

Mr. Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what goods on the Military List have recently been approved for export to Iraq. [29385]

Peter Hain: Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved

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a licence to export to Iraq two seal rings, which appear on the Military List, for use in a gas turbine engine at an oil pump station in Iraq. The UN Sanctions Committee approved the export to Iraq of this equipment under the Oil for Food Programme. The Oil for Food Programme allows the export to Iraq of equipment and spare parts required to improve its oil infrastructure. The revenue Iraq is able to generate from the sale of oil funds its purchases of humanitarian goods.

EU-Israel Association Agreement

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has on whether goods from settlements in occupied territories are imported to the EU as being of Israeli origin; and what discussions he has had with EU partners on action to deal with failings on the part of the Israeli authorities to honour commitments under the EU-Israel Association agreement. [29235]

Peter Hain: The General Affairs Council last considered this question on 19 November 2001. Their conclusion, taking into account the results of responses from Israel to inquiries from EU national customs authorities, was that there remained a requirement to resolve the rules of origin issue. The EU side consequently made clear at the 20 November EU-Israel Association Council that it attached great importance to correct application of the Association agreement and would do its best to find a sustainable solution to the rules of origin issue. It noted that, if the Association Council process was not able to find a solution, the EU would have to review its position, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement. Both sides agreed to pursue discussions on this issue.

Overseas Territories Bill

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the first British passports to be available to citizens of the Overseas Territories under the provisions of the Overseas Territories Bill. [28315]

Mr. Bradshaw: British passports will be made available to citizens of the Overseas Territories once two criteria have been met. First, that the Overseas Territories Bill has been passed and has received Royal Assent. Secondly, that a commencement date for the citizenship provisions of the Bill has been decided by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. This date will be set once satisfactory arrangements for practical implementation, such as passport issue, have been agreed and put in place.

Zambia

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Zambia regarding alleged discrepancies in the electoral process in the recent elections in that country; and if he will make a statement. [26091]

Mr. Straw: The UK has not yet made any representations to the Government of Zambia about alleged discrepancies in the electoral process during the recent elections there. We await the final report of the EU

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Electoral Observer Mission, which we understand will be issued shortly, and will examine its findings carefully with our EU partners.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken in response to the recent report of the EU Observer Mission highlighting alleged shortcomings in the electoral process in the recent tripartite elections in Zambia; and if he will make a statement. [26092]

Mr. Straw: We are aware of reports of irregularities in the administration of the recent Zambian elections. The EU Electoral Observer Mission is working with domestic observer groups to examine these reports and will issue a joint final statement as soon as possible.

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what lessons he has drawn from the report of EU observers into the recent Zambian presidential and general elections. [28945]

Mr. Bradshaw: The final report of the EU Electoral Observer Mission on the recent Zambian elections has not yet been issued. The EU team is working with domestic observer groups, and we understand that a joint final report will be issued shortly. We shall examine its findings carefully with our EU partners.

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