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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 12 March 2002

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Russia

10. Mr. McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he is providing for the regeneration of Russia. [39573]

Mr. Bradshaw: We provide regenerational support to Russia worth £40 million this year in three ways: as a leading shareholder in the World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; as a major contributor to the EU's Technical Assistance programme; and through a substantial bilateral development programme.

War on Terrorism

12. Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on their role in the coalition against international terrorism. [39575]

Mr. Straw: We regularly discuss the progress of the international campaign against terrorism with our partners within the EU.

24. Mr. Savidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States Administration about recent developments in the international campaign against terrorism. [39587]

Mr. Bradshaw: We regularly and frequently discuss the campaign against terrorism with the United States Administration. For example, the Foreign Secretary met Colin Powell on 31 January and discussed this dossier.

Guantanamo Bay

13. Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation of (a) Mr. Feroz Abbasi from Croydon and (b) other UK citizens being held at Guantanamo Bay. [39576]

Mr. Bradshaw: A team of British officials paid a second visit to Guantanamo Bay between 26 February and 1 March. All five British detainees, including Feroz Abbasi appeared to be in reasonable health. Mr. Abbasi's solicitors have made an application for judicial review in relation to his detention and access to legal representation. As this is currently before the UK courts, It would not be right for us to comment on this further.

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the detaining power at Camp X Ray has indicated to him (a) the status of British nationals held there and (b) whether they will face the

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tribunals the detaining power has proposed; and what representations he has made to the detaining power over this issue. [40617]

Mr. Bradshaw: The status of the British detainees and the legal procedure to which they might be subject is complex. The British Government have asked the US authorities to clarify these matters and will continue to do so. In response to our approaches, the US Government have given us the assurance that they would treat the detainees humanely and consistently with the principles of the Geneva convention.

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether UK intelligence and security officials have had access to (a) British nationals detained at Camp X Ray and (b) evidence gathered from them by the detaining power. [40569]

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to my statement in the House on 21 January 2002, Official Report, columns 623–24W and to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Anniesland (Mr. Robertson) on 4 March 2002, Official Report, columns 69–70W. Access to evidence gathered by the detaining power is a matter for that detaining power, in this case the US.

St. Helena

14. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit the Island of St. Helena for the celebrations to mark the 500th anniversary of the island's discovery. [39577]

Mr. Bradshaw: The Secretary of State has no plans to visit St. Helena during its quincentennial year.

The House will be pleased to note that the Overseas Territories Bill, which received Royal Assent on 26 February, will enable St. Helenians to become British Citizens by the time they celebrate their Quincentenary.

EU Overseas Aid

15. Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts regarding the EU overseas aid package. [39578]

Peter Hain: At the General Affairs Council on 18 February 2002.

British Overseas Territories

16. Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the right for self-determination for British overseas territories. [39579]

Peter Hain: Our relationship with the Overseas Territories is one of partnership, founded on the principle of self-determination.

Pakistan

17. Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Pakistan Government on the impact on Pakistan of the conflict in Afghanistan. [39580]

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Mr. Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met President Musharraf on 23 November in Islamabad. He also met Foreign Minister Sattar there and again in Istanbul on 12 February. He discussed Afghanistan and the situation in Pakistan. He expressed our continuing appreciation for President Musharraf's courageous stand against terrorism and underlined our long-term commitment to Pakistan.

Sudan

18. Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Sudan to discuss the implications of the civil conflict. [39581]

Mr. MacShane: I have no plans to visit Sudan in the near future. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development visited Sudan in January. The UK Special Representative for Sudan, Alan Goulty, will represent me during a trip to Sudan later this month.

Middle East

19. Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the relationship between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. [39582]

34. Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Sharon on the peace process in the last two months. [39599]

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friends to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary earlier in the House today to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker).

20. Mr. Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with peace groups in Israel on the peace process. [39583]

Mr. Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had the first meeting between the new peace coalition and a visiting Foreign Minister when he was in Jerusalem on 14 February. I met peace camps when I was in the region in February. We support efforts to bring people on both sides together in the search for peace.

Kashmir

21. Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Governments of India and Pakistan about the future of Kashmir. [39584]

Mr. Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary remains in close contact with his Indian and Pakistani counterparts and discusses a range of issues, including Kashmir, with them. He most recently met the Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh during his visit to Delhi on 27 February. He met the Pakistani Foreign Minister, Abdul Sattar, in Istanbul during the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Conference) Conference on 12 February and during his visit to Islamabad on

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23 November 2001. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also discussed Kashmir during his visit to the region in January 2002.

27. Mr. Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with India and Pakistan on the subject of Kashmir. [39590]

Mr. Bradshaw: We remain deeply concerned at the continuing tensions between India and Pakistan. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary remains in close contact with his Indian and Pakistani counterparts and discusses a full range of issues, including Kashmir. We will continue to urge both countries to resolve all outstanding issues, including Kashmir through dialogue. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made this clear during his visit to the region in January.

Zimbabwe

22. Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relations with Zimbabwe. [39585]

Mr. MacShane: It is no secret that Britain's relations with Zimbabwe are at their lowest ebb since independence.

25. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Southern African Development Community to help maintain democracy and secure economic recovery in Zimbabwe. [39588]

Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was unable to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Coolum on 2–5 March. But my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my noble Friend Baroness Amos discussed the situation in Zimbabwe at length with Southern African Heads of State.

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