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Jordan

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Jordanian authorities concerning the case of the Siham Suleiman Moussa Qandah. [53075]

Mr. Bradshaw: The case of Siham Suleiman Moussa Qandah and her family was brought to our attention recently by several MPs and by the NGO Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The Jordanian authorities are also aware of our interest in the case. I am very concerned about the unfortunate and distressing situation. The UK is committed to the promotion and protection of religious freedom, and condemns instances where individuals are persecuted because of their faith or belief. The case of Siham Suleiman Moussa Qandah is a complex one and I am seeking further information from our embassy in Amman and from Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Our embassy has already been in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the case. We will need to ensure that any action we take is not counter-productive to the needs of the individuals concerned.

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Shafiq Rasul

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the health of Shafiq Rasul in Camp X-ray; and what steps he has taken to ensure that Shafiq Rasul has access to legal advice and assistance. [53346]

Mr. Bradshaw: British officials have paid two visits to British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay. On both occasions, the detainees, including Mr. Rasul, appeared in satisfactory physical condition and did not complain of any mistreatment.

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

The question of access to legal representation by the detainees has recently been the subject of judicial review proceedings in the High Court. An application has been made to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal against the High Court's decision. I am not in a position therefore to comment further on this matter.

Pakistan (Christians)

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the situation of (a) Ayub Masih and (b) other Christians in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement. [53655]

Mr. Bradshaw: We have received a large number of representatives from hon. Members and members of the public about Ayub Masih. We are deeply concerned about the misuse of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan and the fate of many Pakistani citizens, including Christians, imprisoned under these laws. Together with our EU partners, we have raised our concerns at regular intervals with the Pakistani authorities, citing specific cases including that of Mr. Masih. We raised his case again with our EU partners on 10 April 2002 and are now considering what further action we should take.

Gibraltar

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government were informed of the discriminatory pensions practices of Gibraltar that he reported to the House on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 453. [52966]

Peter Hain [holding answer 29 April 2002]: HCA was introduced in 1989. The then Government first raised in 1990 the concern that such a scheme should not be discriminatory in nature. We have continued to press the Government of Gibraltar for a fuller picture of this scheme and the elderly persons allowance.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the discriminatory pensions practices of Gibraltar that he referred to in the House on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 453. [52964]

Peter Hain [holding answer 29 April 2002]: We are particularly concerned about the household cost allowance paid to those of pensionable age in Gibraltar. We also have some concerns about the elderly persons allowance.

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Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was informed that the European Commission was embarking on an investigation into potentially illegal practices in relation to pensions in Gibraltar. [52962]

Peter Hain [holding answer 29 April 2002]: The European Commission approached Her Majesty's Government on 12 July 2001 in relation to this matter.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions Ministers have informed the Committees of the House about the discriminatory pensions practices of Gibraltar that he reported to the House on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 453. [52952]

Peter Hain [holding answer 29 April 2002]: As I told the House on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 453, we are concerned that pensions practices in Gibraltar may be discriminatory under EC law. The permanent under- secretary at the FCO briefed the Public Accounts Committee on 15 December 1997. The Secretary of State wrote to the PAC in July 1998. I wrote on 8 March of this year and will be doing so again to provide an update of recent events. I also wrote in confidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 17 April.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which dates the discriminatory pensions practices of Gibraltar have been formally raised with the Gibraltar Government in the past 10 years (a) in writing and (b) in discussions with Ministers. [52965]

Peter Hain [holding answer 29 April 2002]: During the period from 1998 the Government have raised the matter with the Government of Gibraltar in writing on the following dates: 17 February 1998, 6 March 1998, 29 July 1998, 31 July 2001, 23 August 2001, 19 September 2001, 20 September 2001 and 8 March 2002.

British Ministers discussed the issue with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar on 28 January 1998. I last wrote to the Government of Gibraltar on this on 8 March 2002.

To obtain the requested information for the period prior to 1998 would necessitate a search of a large number of files which could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he informed the Government of Gibraltar prior to referring in the House on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 453, to the discriminatory pensions practices of Gibraltar. [52963]

Peter Hain [holding answer 29 April 2002]: As I told the House on 16 April, we are concerned that pensions practices in Gibraltar may be discriminatory. We have drawn this concern to the attention of the Government of Gibraltar on numerous occasions. Most recently, I wrote to the Chief Minister on 8 March of this year.

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister for Europe on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 433, on pension scams and the Government of Gibraltar, if he will set out his policy in relation to this issue; and what discussions he had with the Government of Gibraltar prior to this statement. [54907]

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Peter Hain: As I told the House on 16 April, we are concerned that pension practices in Gibraltar may be discriminatory. The Government continue to urge the Government of Gibraltar to address this matter.

For details of when the Government have raised this matter with the Government of Gibraltar I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) today (UIN 52965).

Israel

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for International Development to the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) on 11 March 2002, Official Report, column 684W, what representations have been made by his Department to the Israeli Government to seek financial compensation for EU-financed development projects in Gaza and the west bank damaged and destroyed by Israeli military action. [53472]

Mr. Straw [holding answer 2 May 2002]: The Government have stressed to the Government of Israel that any action they take in self defence must be proportionate. Israel must avoid civilian casualties and avoid damaging civilian property and infrastructure. Together with our EU partners we have raised our concerns about the damage to EU and other donor-funded projects in the west bank and Gaza strip caused by Israeli military actions and demanded that this practice stop. The EU reserves the right to demand compensation in the appropriate fora. The European Commission continues to monitor and cost this damage.

Saudi Arabia

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will discuss with the Saudi ambassador to the UK the poem he has published praising a Palestinian suicide bomber; and if he will make a statement; [54195]

(2) what representations he has had from (a) the Government of Israel and (b) the Board of Deputies of British Jews about the recently published poem and letter to the Board of Deputies by the Saudi ambassador to the UK; [54201]

(3) if he will discuss with the Saudi ambassador to the UK the letter he wrote to the Board of Deputies about a former Prime Minister of Israel; and if he will make a statement. [54196]

Mr. Bradshaw: We have made clear to the Saudi ambassador our well known position on suicide bombings. We condemn them as we condemn all forms of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians.

I have received a letter from the Jewish Board of Deputies to which I will reply. We have received no representations on this subject from the Government of Israel.

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