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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Future of Europe Convention

Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will place in the Library a verbatim report of the proceedings of the European Convention on the Future of Europe. [46256]

Peter Hain: The Convention does not provide verbatim reports of each plenary session. It is, nevertheless, committed to making its proceedings transparent. Plenary sessions are open to the public and broadcast live on the Convention's website (http://

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european-convention.eu.int). It also contains summary records of these sessions, details of its future work programme, and all documents submitted in the course of its work.

Burma

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 13 February, Official Report, column 435W, on Burma, what assessment he has made of measures taken in partnership with the EU designed to promote human rights, national reconciliation and democracy in Burma; and if he will make a statement. [46379]

Mr. Bradshaw: I very much welcome the EU's united position and involvement in Burma. In recent weeks there has been an EU Troika delegation visit to Burma, joint action over forced labour in Burma at the International Labour Organisation, an EU demarche to press for the reinstatement of a planned visit to Burma by the UN Secretary General's Special Representative to Burma, and we are currently preparing a resolution on Burma for adoption at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

I remain gravely concerned about the overall situation in Burma. Although there has been some very modest political progress there in the past 16 months, we now need to see evidence of substantive change if confidence in the political process in Burma is to be maintained.

Community Agricultural Policy

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost will be to the EU in 2002 of the CAP (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of the overall EU budget; how much each EU member state will receive from the CAP; and if he will make a statement. [46136]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 26 March 2002]: I have been asked to reply.

The cost to the EU budget of the CAP in 2002 is forecast to be 44,480 million euro, which is 46.5 per cent. of the budget. The following table gives CAP receipts for each member state in 2001, since there are no forecasts available for these receipts in 2002.

Member StateEuro (million)
Austria1,052
Belgium934
Denmark1,112
Finland815
France9,221
Germany5,858
Greece2,612
Ireland1,584
Italy5,324
Luxembourg29
Netherlands1,104
Portugal874
Spain6,176
Sweden780
United Kingdom3,997


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Gibraltar

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Spain was invited to attend the recent talks under the terms of the Brussels Process before an invitation was extended to the Government of Gibraltar. [47406]

Peter Hain: The Brussels Process, involving the UK and Spanish governments, was established in 1984 with the aim of overcoming both government's differences over Gibraltar and promoting co-operation on a mutually beneficial basis.

We informed the Chief Minster of Gibraltar in June 2001 of our intention to re-launch the Brussels Process. We and the Spanish Government made clear from the outset that Gibraltarian engagement would be an important element in carrying the process successfully forward.

The Chief Minister of Gibraltar has been invited to attend al the Brussels Process meetings since then. The offer remains open for him to participate in future meetings, having his own and distinct voice on the British side of the table: as the formula "three voices two flags".

Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis European Union funds are not made available for the economic development of Gibraltar. [48307]

Peter Hain: Gibraltar has access to European Union Structural Funding. For the period 2000–06 Gibraltar has been allocated Euro 8 million of Objective 2 funding (assisting regions affected by the decline of traditional industries), and Euro 7 million of Objective 3 funding (combating long-term unemployment and promoting the integration of young people into the labour market). In addition, Gibraltar is involved in three INTERREG III programmes, with an allocation of Euro 425,000 for each.

Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Government will formally seek the views of the Government of Gibraltar on proposals being discussed with the Spanish Government before agreeing any such proposals with a view to these the being placed before the people of Gibraltar for referendum. [48308]

Peter Hain: The aim of the current Brussels Process talks between the UK and Spanish Governments is to produce a set of proposals offering a framework for a secure, stable and prosperous future for Gibraltar. We want Gibraltar to have a voice in the talks. That is why we and the Spanish Government have invited the Chief Minister to participate with his own voice on the British side of the table, a formula known as: "three voices two flags". The offer stands and we continue to hope the Chief Minister will take it up.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the date for the next round of talks between Britain and Spain on the future status of Gibraltar. [47317]

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Peter Hain: A further Ministerial meeting under the Brussels Process will be held in the coming months. The date has not yet been fixed. Our aim remains to conclude a comprehensive agreement by the summer.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether Gibraltar's social tax status would be a barrier to integration into the UK. [47315]

Mr. Hain: None. The Government does not regard integration with the UK as an option for any of the British Overseas Territories.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to encourage the United States Administration to ratify the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty; and what information he has in respect of the shortfall in payments made to the CTBT organisation in Vienna. [48079]

Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. John McDonnell) on 10 December 2001, (Official Report, column 711W.)

In previous years, payments to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty Organisation have averaged over 95 per cent. of the annual approved budget.

By 3 April this year, the organisation had already received over 50 per cent. of its current budget contributions. This compares favourably with this time last year, when the figure stood at 45 per cent. The US have contributed US$16.6 million for 2002, which represents more than 95 per cent. of their assessed contribution.

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proceeds from the sale of the former Cambodian Embassy in London. [48825]

Mr. Bradshaw: The proceeds from the sale of the former Cambodian Embassy premises and subsequent interest thereon, amount in total to £2.6 million, were transferred to the Foreign Ministry of Cambodia on 21 March. We hope the Cambodian Government will use these funds to establish a permanent diplomatic presence in the UK.

Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what goods subject to strategic controls have recently been approved for export to Iraq. [48826]

Mr. MacShane: Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export laboratory equipment for use by secondary schools in Northern Iraq. The export included 6.25kg of sodium sulphide which is subject to the Dual-Use Items (Export Control) Regulations 2000 as amended. The UN Iraq Sanctions Committee approved this export to Iraq under the Oil for Food programme (OFF). Under OFF Iraq is allowed to export unlimited quantities of oil to fund the

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purchase of humanitarian goods. The export is consistent with the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for April and (b) major European Union events for the period between 30 April and September. [48827]

Peter Hain:





(Informal)






(Ministerial Informal)














(Ministerial Informal)





(Ministerial Informal)









10–11—Brussels—Agriculture Council

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11—Brussels—Fisheries Council
13–14—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council
17–18—Brussels—Transport and Telecoms Council
17–18—Brussels—General Affairs Council
21–22—Seville—European Council
24—Brussels—General Affairs Council (Evening)
24–25—Brussels—Environment Council
25—Luxembourg—ECOFIN
26—Brussels—Health Council
July
6—Copenhagen—ASEM Ministers for Finance
12—Brussels—ECOFIN
12–13—Kolding—Meeting of Employment and Social Policy Ministers (Informal)
15–16—Brussels—Agriculture Council
19—Brussels—Budget Meeting
19–21—Arhus—Environment Ministers Meeting (Informal)
22–23—Brussels—General Affairs Council
August
31–1—Elisnore—Gymnich (Ministerial Informal)
September
6—Brussels—ASEM Economic Ministers Meeting
6–8—Copenhagen—ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal)
8–10—Nyborg—Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal)
12–13—Copenhagen—Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal)
22–23—Copenhagen—ASEM Meeting
23–24—Brussels—Agriculture Council
26—Brussels—Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism Council
27—Tent—ACP-EU Ministers Meeting
30—Brussels—General Affairs Council
30—Brussels—Research Council

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