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Ministerial Transport
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last used the railway service in connection with his official duties; what station he left from and what was the destination; and whether it is his intention to make greater use of the railways in future. [28091]
Mr. Straw: I generally travel to my Blackburn constituency by rail, most recently on 18 January 2002. I made extensive use of the railways on official business as Home Secretary: as Foreign Secretary the opportunities to do so are more limited.
South Africa
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit South Africa; and if he will raise the issue of arms sales with his South African counterpart. [28291]
Mr. Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no immediate plans to visit South Africa. The Under-Secretary, my noble Friend Baroness Amos, will be visiting South Africa in February. There are no plans to discuss arms sales during that visit.
Gibraltar
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will visit Gibraltar before he next meets his Spanish counterpart under the auspices of the Brussels Process. [28791]
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Mr. Straw: I refer the right hon. Member to my statement in the House on 14 January 2002, Official Report, columns 21–29. I will be discussing this further when I see the Chief Minister of Gibraltar in London today.
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he plans to give to the Royal visit to Gibraltar in 2002. [30681]
Mr. Straw: There are no Royal visits to Gibraltar planned for 2002.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with Spain on roaming rights of Gibraltar mobile telephones; and under what statutory powers he can take action against Spain over restriction of telephone numbers for Gibraltar. [30644]
Peter Hain: We raise the problems facing the Gibraltar telephones sector with the Spanish Government, at ministerial and official level, at every appropriate opportunity. Most recently, I raised the issue with Spanish Europe Minister Ramon de Miguel on 24 January. Her Majesty's Ambassador to Madrid has also discussed the problem with Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique in recent days.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no statutory powers to take action against Spain on the restriction of telephone numbers for Gibraltar.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking against Spain in respect of freedom of movement of UK citizens on the Gibraltar border. [30552]
Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-East (Mr. Turner) on 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 826W.
Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if independence for Gibraltar has been discussed during talks under the Brussels Process. [30646]
Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 17 January 2002, Official Report, column 399W.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the integration of Gibraltar with the UK has been discussed during talks under the Brussels Process. [30640]
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next meet representatives of the Government of Spain to discuss the future status of Gibraltar. [30696]
Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Jeff Ennis) today, Official Report, column 1177W.
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Trafficking
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Government of Bangladesh concerning measures to combat people trafficking, with particular reference to (a) the number of prosecutions for trafficking offences, (b) the sentences imposed on those found guilty of trafficking and (c) compensation granted to victims of trafficking; [29453]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the scale of trafficking of women and children from Bangladesh. [29454]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on people trafficking on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 304W.
The most recent figures we have available are from the Bangladesh National Women's Lawyers Association (BNWLA) who conducted a survey in 10 districts of Bangladesh in 1999. It found that approximately 7,000 people were trafficked during that time (70 per cent. under 18) with the majority going to India (80 per cent.). I understand that there were 63 repatriations last year (50 children), mainly from India.
Latest figures from the BNWLA show that there are 60 cases under trial at present. Last year there were three cases, each of which resulted in the accused being found guilty and given a life sentence. There is no specific compensation scheme for victims, although we understand that the BNWLA provides some support services. The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs is also receiving development funding for a related project.
Convention on the Future of Europe
Mrs. Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whom the Government will appoint as the National Government representative to the Convention on the Future of Europe. [31137]
Mr. Straw: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe has been appointed the Government representative to the Convention on the Future of Europe.
Camp X-Ray
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Foreign Office officials first arrived at Camp X-Ray. [30412]
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he was first informed of the conditions of the prisoners held in Camp X-Ray; [30410]
- (2) when he first had communications with UK officials concerning the conditions of prisoners in Camp X-Ray. [30361]
Mr. Straw: The report of the officials' visit was sent and received on 21 January; I received it on my arrival in Kinshasa that afternoon. My hon. Friend the Under- Secretary of State, the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), made a statement the same day, Official Report, columns 623–31.
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Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he first had communications with US officials concerning the conditions of prisoners in Camp X-Ray. [30411]
Mr. Straw: I discussed the conditions in which British nationals were being held with the US Secretary of State Colin Powell on 12 January and asked for access by British officials in order to verify their identity, nationality and welfare.
Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what charges Mr. Abbasi is being held at Camp X-Ray in Cuba and under what jurisdiction; if he has received legal representation during interrogation; who has made direct contact with him and in whose presence; if he has provided testimony of his treatment and condition in private without the presence of American officials; if written confirmation of his medical condition and treatment has been provided; if he is subject to a possible death penalty; and what prospects there are for his extradition to the UK. [30414]
Mr. Bradshaw: We are not yet aware of any charges but are in regular contact with the US regarding next steps. We have made it clear that the detainees must be treated humanely and, if tried, are entitled to a fair trial and to legal representation. At this stage we do not know whether detainees would be subject to the death penalty if convicted but HMG regularly makes their views plain to the US on this issue. The question of whether the detainees will be prosecuted by the US or returned to the UK is as yet undecided.
The UK team which met Mr. Abbasi during their visit from 17–20 January were accompanied by representatives of the US as the detaining power. The report of the visit indicates that the British detainees spoke without inhibitions and appeared to be in good physical health.
Ministerial Meetings
Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what items will be discussed at his next meeting with his Spanish counterpart. [30633]
Peter Hain: The Foreign Ministers will meet at the EU General Affairs Council on 28 January, where they will discuss a range of bilateral and foreign policy issues.
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