| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Ministerial Training
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Solicitor-General how much has been spent by her Department on voice coaching for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years. [52701]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 26 April 2002]: Nothing.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Solicitor-General how much has been spent by her Department on training by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for Ministers and officials in each of the last five years. [52740]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 26 April 2002]: Nothing.
Young People
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Solicitor-General on what subjects and on which dates her Department has recently consulted organisations representing young people; and if she will list such organisations. [52493]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 30 April 2002]: The Departments for which the Attorney-General is responsible have not formally consulted any organisations representing young people. However, the Crown Prosecution Service has worked with the following groups on youth justice issues: Nacro Youth Crime section, SOVA, the Michael Sieff Foundation, Schools Out!, the Children's Society, youth offender teams and Connexions.
Ronald Maddison
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will place in the Library a copy of the request from Her Majesty's Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon for a fresh inquest into the death of Ronald Maddison. [53394]
The Solicitor-General: Following requests for and availability of further information, HM Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon recently completed an application to the Attorney-General for authority to apply for a fresh inquest into the death of Ronald Maddison. That application was granted on 16 April 2002. The next stage is for the coroner to apply to the High Court for a fresh inquest. If the High Court grants the application, the coroner will hold the fresh inquest with a jury. If that is the case, the jury should reach a verdict on the evidence received at the inquest, free from prejudice. I am not satisfied that publication of the request made by the coroner would not prejudice a jury if there were to be a fresh inquest and therefore I do not consider it to be appropriate to place a copy of the coroner's request in the Library. The coroner shares my view. The facts will be fully canvassed at the inquest if the application is granted.
CPS
Mr. Lepper: To ask the Solicitor-General when the annual report by HM chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service for 2000–01 will be published. [54679]
The Solicitor-General: The report was laid before Parliament today and will be published tomorrow. It reports on the performance of the Crown Prosecution Service in the period from 1 October 2000 to 30 September 2001.
2 May 2002 : Column 929W
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Victor Bout
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent developments there have been concerning Victor Bout. [54788]
Mr. MacShane: There have been two recent important developments. On 15 April 2002 the UK publication Air Cargo News published an article which alleges that Victor Bout had been involved in the supply of an aircraft for Osama bin Laden in 1995. Prior to 11 September this aircraft had reportedly been frequently overflying Iran from Saudi Arabia to Kabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan. It is now reportedly parked at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. I shall be asking that the United Nations investigate this very serious allegation as a matter of great importance.
Following our past approaches to the UAE on the subject of Victor Bout, and the issuing of an international arrest warrant by the Belgian authorities, I am pleased to welcome a recent announcement by the Government of the United Arab Emirates. They have informed the United Nations Angola Monitoring Mechanism that Bout's companies, ie Air Cess and Trans Avia, have been prohibited from operating in the United Arab Emirates. He has also been banned from entering the United Arab Emirates personally.
I hope that this increased international pressure on Bout will finally result in the end of his sanctions-busting activities and that he will be brought to justice. The UK has played a leading role in drawing international attention to Bout's illegal activities, initially in Angola and Liberia and more recently relating to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda.
Iraq
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of unaccounted for stocks of Iraqi precursor chemicals, chemical agent and special munitions, based on the findings of the UN Special Commission. [54789]
Mr. Straw: In answer to questions on 12 March 2002, Official Report, columns 743–45, I said that weapons inspectors were unable to account for 4,000 tonnes of so-called precursor chemicals used in the production of weapons; 610 tonnes of precursor chemicals used in the production of nerve gas; and 31,000 chemical weapons munitions.
This information was the best available at the time, and was based on Iraqi declarations to UNSCOM inspectors between 1991–98 and data contained in an UNSCOM report published in 1999.
Since I gave this answer, Her Majesty's Government have carried out a more detailed study. This latest assessment of the quantities of material unaccounted for by UNSCOM inspectors which has potential applications in Iraq's chemical and biological weapons programmes is as follows:
- Up to 3,000 tonnes of precursor chemicals, approximately 300 tonnes of which, in the Iraqi CW programme, were unique to the production of VX nerve agent;
Up to 360 tonnes of bulk CW agent including 1.5 tonnes of VX; and
2 May 2002 : Column 930W
Over 30,000 special munitions for delivery of chemical and biological agents;
Large quantities of growth media acquired for use in the production of biological weapons—enough to produce over three times the amount of anthrax Iraq admits to having manufactured.
Uganda
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Uganda about human rights with specific reference to the conduct of the police towards opposition supporters at a rally in Kampala on 12 January; and if he will make a statement. [52112]
Mr. Straw: We follow closely the human rights situation in Uganda and regularly raise our concerns with the Ugandan authorities. We also have regular contact with the Ugandan Human Rights Commission and other HR interest groups such as the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative.
We take seriously reports of human rights abuses, such as harassment of the opposition. Unfortunately, the 12 January rally resulted in the death of a student. Three policemen were arrested in connection with the incident, but were subsequently released pending further investigation. The high commission continues regularly to stress to the Ugandan authorities the need for effective action to bring those responsible for this death to justice.
Gibraltar
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on referring the issue of self-determination of the Gibraltar people to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion. [53959]
Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Crausby) on 6 November 2001, Official Report, column 121W.
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Derby, North on 11 April 2002, Official Report, column 525W, on Gibraltar, whether the sums mentioned that Gibraltar is to receive under European Union structural funding are in pounds or euros. [52487]
Peter Hain: The sums referred to are Gibraltar's Structural Fund allocations in euros.
Racism
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 2002, Official Report, column 1638W,
2 May 2002 : Column 931W
on racism, what further progress has been made in consultation with NGOs in drawing up a national action plan to ensure UK-wide follow-through in line with the action plan drawn up by the UN World Conference on Racism in Durban in September 2001; when he plans to publish a draft action plan for consultation; what events he is considering to discuss this plan; and what measures he will take to ensure the engagement of the devolved regions in this process. [52546]
Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
Responsibility for taking this work forward falls to the Home Office. A working group of representatives from all interested Departments, including the devolved Administrations, is being established with a view to drawing up a national action plan by early summer. This will be done in close consultation with an non-governmental organisation (NGO) steering group which has been specifically set up for that purpose.
Much of the work recommended in the World Conference Programme of Action is already being undertaken or planned in United Kingdom. We are in the process of mapping out the extent of this work to identify any gaps. We are also considering with the NGO steering group plans for a national consultation exercise to discuss the draft action plan, culminating in a national conference in the autumn.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |