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GCHQ
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many US National Security Agency personnel are at GCHQ; and what the rank is of the most senior of them. [47607]
Mr. Straw: It is long-standing Government policy not to comment on details of the staffing of the security and intelligence services. However, I can confirm that there are a number of NSA personnel at GCHQ in a variety of roles. The most senior is the Special US Liaison Officer, a former deputy director at NSA.
Lord Levy
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost has been in each month since January 1999 arising from the activities of Lord Levy, broken down by (a) reimbursed travelling costs, (b) reimbursed other costs, (c) support costs in the UK, (d) support costs incurred at UK embassies and (e) other costs; and if he will make a statement. [47608]
Mr. Bradshaw: Lord Levy receives no remuneration and travels at his own expense. The FCO provides him with logistic and administrative support, including use of an office in London, and official accommodation overseas, the cost of which is not separately itemised.
EU Membership
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Governments of (a) Hungary, (b) Czech Republic, (c) Slovenia and (d) Croatia; and if their application for membership of the EU was discussed. [47377]
Peter Hain: The Secretary of State met the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Dr. Janos Martonyi, on 1 and on 15 November 2001. He met the Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan in London on 25 January 2002, and Slovenian President Kucan and the Slovenian Minister of Economy Dr. Tea Petrin in December 2001. The Secretary of State also met Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula in December 2001. EU enlargement was discussed at each meeting. The Secretary of State will be visiting Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic on 22–23 April where their applications to join the EU will be discussed.
Future of Europe
Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is intended that the votes taken at the proceedings of the European Convention on the Future of Europe will be recorded. [46255]
Peter Hain: The Convention's Rules of Procedure stipulate that:
- "The recommendations of the Convention shall be adopted by consensus . . . When the deliberations of the Convention result in several different options, the support obtained by each option may be indicated."
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contains records of these sessions, including video updates, details of its future work programme, and all documents submitted in the course of its work.
European Directives
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the European Union directives and regulations relating to his Department that have been implemented in each of the last four years, specifying (a) the title and purpose of each, (b) the cost to public funds of each and (c) the cost to businesses of each. [39118]
Peter Hain: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office plays a co-ordinating role in UK EU policy. As such the Foreign and Commonwealth Office rarely leads on implementation of directives and regulations.
(a) The Foreign and Commonwealth Office lead on Regulation (EC) No. 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
This regulation consolidates the initiatives that the institutions have already taken with a view to improving the transparency of the decision-making process. The purpose of the regulation is to give the fullest possible effect to the right of public access to documents and to lay down the general principles and limits on such access in accordance with Article 255(2) of the EC treaty.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also lead on the implementation of the following legislation where it is applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic:
- Council Regulation (EC) No 1035/2001 of 22 May 2001 establishing a catch documentation scheme for Dissostichus spp. (Patagonian toothfish and Giant Antarctic Cod).
Council Regulation (EC) No 2848/2000 of 15 December 2000 fixing for 2001 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where limitations in catch are required.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1543/2000 of 29 June 2000 establishing a Community framework for the collection and management of the data needed to conduct the common fisheries policy.
Council Regulation (EC) No 2742/1999 of 17 December 1999 fixing for 2000 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where the limitations in catch are required and amending Regulation (EC) No 66/98.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1721/1999 of 29 July 1999 laying down certain control measures in respect of vessels flying the flag of Non-Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
Council Regulation (EC) No 2479/98 of 12 November 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 66/98 laying down certain conservation and control measures applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic.
Council Regulation (EC) No 66/98 of 18 December 1997 laying down certain conservation and control measures applicable to fishing activities in the Antarctic and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2113/96.
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(c) Departments are required to produce Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) for proposals, including those originating in European legislation, likely to impose significant costs on business, charities or voluntary organisations. The above legislation was not considered to have a significant cost to business.
Peru
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the bomb which exploded recently in Lima, Peru. [46372]
Mr. MacShane: We strongly condemn the car bomb attack carried out in Lima on 20 March and the resultant tragic loss of life.
Gibraltar
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the level of border delays experienced by the people of Gibraltar. [46854]
Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the previous answer I gave him on 3 April (UIN 45472).
The Spanish Government opened a second channel on 21 March for vehicles exiting Gibraltar to Spain. Delays exiting Gibraltar have been significantly reduced. We are monitoring the situation carefully and are in close touch with the Spanish Government and Gibraltar authorities.
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the funds for Gibraltar agreed to by the European Union at the European Council meeting at Barcelona will be available if the people of Gibraltar reject joint British and Spanish proposals put to them on their future. [46851]
Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 25 March 2002, Official Report, column 614W.
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Government have had concerning Gibraltar with fellow member states of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [46852]
Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Dodds) on 20 March 2002, Official Report, column 389W. It is for the European Commission to consider how best to carry forward its remit from the European Council.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Gibraltar. [47318]
Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the reply from my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack) on 14 January 2002, Official Report, column 29.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to refer the question of Gibraltar's constitutional standing to the International Court of Justice. [47319]
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Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 632W.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support and assistance his Department is providing to the Government of Gibraltar with their plans to celebrate 300 years of British sovereignty of Gibraltar in 2004. [48271]
Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Middleton (Jim Dobbin) on 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 494W.
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has given details to the Government of Gibraltar of the proposals which are being considered for agreement with his Spanish counterpart regarding the future status of Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [47563]
Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar in London on 25 January and had detailed discussions on Gibraltar's future and the Brussels process and offered to keep the Chief Minister fully informed.
At the most recent Brussels process meeting in London on 4 February my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and the Spanish Foreign Minister reiterated their invitation to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to participate in future Brussels process meetings on the basis of the Two Flags, Three Voices formula, having his own and distinct voice as part of the British delegation.
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