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British Detainees (Guantanamo Bay)

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received clarification from the detaining power as to the legal status of British detainees at Camp X-Ray; and if British detainees at Camp X-Ray may be removed to other jurisdictions without his knowledge and approval. [44476]

Mr. Bradshaw: We continue to ask the US authorities for clarification of the position of British detainees in Guantanamo Bay, including their status and the legal procedure to which they might be subject.

In response to our approaches, the US Government has given us the assurance that they will treat all of the detainees humanely and consistently within the principles of the Geneva Convention.

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) the UK Government and (b) its agencies has been offered access to evidence gathered from British detainees at Camp X-Ray by the detaining power. [44457]

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 12 March 2002, Official Report, column 867W.

Drug Trafficking

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) of 11 March 2002, Official Report, column 691W, on drug trafficking, what anti-drugs assistance has been given to countries in

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south-west and central Asia; and what assistance has been given for border security and surveillance in those countries. [44711]

Mr. MacShane: We have allocated approximately £4.5 million for counter-narcotics projects in central and south-east Asia in financial year 2002–03.

This region has already benefited significantly from FCO funding. The main recipients for the financial years 1998–2002 have been Iran (approximately £2.9 million, mostly via UNDCP) and the five Central Asian Republics (approximately £500,000).

FCO overseas anti-drugs assistance is targeted at improving law enforcement capacities in the main producing and trafficking countries which pose a direct drugs treat to the UK through the provision of equipment and training.

Creche Facilities

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what creche facilities are provided by his Department; and at what cost. [44866]

Mr. Bradshaw: The FCO opened its first workplace nursery on 3 September 2001. It can take up to 36 children. Capital costs were in the region of £450,000 (£375,000 for construction costs, £50,000 for professional fees and £25,000 for furniture and equipment). The Cabinet Office provided £150,000 towards these costs from the Modernising Government Fund. Parents pay between £100-£120 per week, depending on their grade and the age of the child. It is envisaged that an initial subsidy towards running costs of up to £85,000 per annum, reducing gradually over a 2–3 year period, will be needed while the nursery builds up to full capacity. The objective of setting up the nursery was to demonstrate a long-term commitment to helping staff combine work and family.

The FCO is also an employer partner in the Buffer Bear network of nurseries, with access to 10 priority places. The cost of a place varies depending on, among other things, the location of the nursery and staff are offered a subsidy of £15-£35 per week depending on their grade. These nurseries are based at key commuter points and offer choice for parents who do not wish to bring their children into London.

The FCO currently has two under-two places at the First Steps nursery in Marsham street. These are being phased out, before the FCO withdraws from the contract in December 2002. The cost of a place for an under-two is £223.14 per week. As with our in-house nursery, parents pay between £100-£120 per week, depending on their grade. The FCO subsidy for the coming year will be in the region of £14,000.

Staff are also eligible to use the Westminster Holiday Playscheme, which caters for 5 to 12-year-olds during school holidays, at three sites in central London. The cost is £26 per day, which is split equally between the FCO and the parent. The subsidy for FY 2001–02 will be in the region of £4,000. Places are offered on a first come, first served basis, which means the number of users varies each year.

The FCO is currently conducting a review of child care support that is offered to staff.

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Nigeria

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Nigerian Government in support of Safiyatu Hussaini's appeal against the sentence of death by stoning for the crime of adultery. [43972]

Mr. MacShane: We have repeatedly made clear our concerns about the case of Safiyatu Hussaini. Our high commission in Abuja is monitoring the situation closely and is in contact with local organisations involved in the case. Ms Hussaini has the support of a strong defence team, supported by the Nigerian Human Rights Commission and local non-governmental organisations.

Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Nigeria regarding the woman due to be stoned to death; and if he will make a statement. [45004]

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Nigeria about the decision by Sharia law to stone to death Safiyati Husseini. [44896]

Mr. MacShane: The Nigerian Government are well aware of the Government's concerns over the sentence of death by stoning passed on Safiyatu Husseini.

Ms Husseini's case is currently before Sokoto State Sharia Court of Appeal, which has said it will give its decision on the appeal on 25 March. If the sentence is confirmed, there is scope for further appeals. Ms Husseini is supported by a strong legal team and the Nigerian Human Rights Commission.

The British high commission in Abuja is monitoring the situation closely, and has made the Government's concerns over the case known at a number of levels to the Nigerian authorities.

Zimbabwe

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what estimate he has made of the numbers of British passport holders who may need to be rescued in the event of a major humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe; [44934]

(2) what contingency plans the Government have made to rescue British passport holders by air in the event of a major humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. [44933]

Mr. Bradshaw: There are approximately 26,000 British nationals registered with the British high commission in Harare. We have a civil contingency plan for Zimbabwe, as we do for many other countries. Any evacuation would be a last resort and by whatever means available at the time.

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to demonstrate the Government's position on recognising the result of the Zimbabwean elections, with particular reference to (a) diplomatic relations and (b) other protocols with Zimbabwe. [45789]

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Mr. Straw: I refer the right hon. Member to my statements to the House of 14 and 21 March. We do not recognise the result of the presidential election in Zimbabwe as being a true reflection of the will of the Zimbabwean people. As a signal of our conviction that the election was neither free nor fair, the British high commissioner in Harare did not attend the inauguration ceremony for Mr. Mugabe on 17 March.

India (Peter Bleach)

Mr. Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations at ministerial level have been made to the Government of India regarding Peter Bleach; what the response of the Indian Government were; and if he will make a statement. [45411]

Mr. Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to the Indian Home Minister, L. K. Advani, about Mr. Bleach's case on 13 December 2001. The Prime Minister also raised it with Mr. Advani during his visit to India in January 2002.

I discussed Mr. Bleach's case with the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, on 22 February 2002. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reiterated our concern about Mr. Bleach's continued detention and poor health with Mr. Advani on 27 February 2002.

Since December 2000 we have requested that Peter Bleach be released on grounds of fair and equal treatment with the five Russians convicted with him for the same offences, and who were released in July 2000. The Government of India's response has been that the nature of Mr. Bleach's offences was different: we do not accept this. We have asked the Government of India to reconsider Mr. Bleach's case and to take into account the deterioration in his health since he has been diagnosed with tuberculosis and bronco-pneumonia.

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