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Advisory Committee Mandates

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the mandate of the Committee on the Arrangements for Implementing Europe Agreements with the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Free-trade Agreements with the Baltic states is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [55388]

Peter Hain: The free trade agreements and Europe Agreements between the EU and 10 candidates for accession from central and eastern Europe (including the Baltics) are discussed at the Central European Working Group and monitored at the relevant Association Councils, Committees and specialist ad hoc sub- committee meetings.

The Central European Working Group's mandate is to monitor the implementation of the Europe Agreements and free trade agreements. UK officials participate at the Central European Working Group and regularly attend the Association Councils and Committees to support UK policy interests. EU common positions in the group are reached by member states through consensus. Substantive issues, such as proposed regulations to reduce trade barriers, are submitted to both Houses for parliamentary scrutiny.

Since May 2001, our records show that there have been 44 meetings of the group, 10 Association Councils and 10 Association Committees.

Further detail on this matter could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Moluccas

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what actions Her Majesty's Government are taking to support the peace deal agreed in the Molucca Islands of Indonesia in February; [55704]

(2) if he will make a statement on the situation in the Molucca Islands of Indonesia. [55705]

Mr. Bradshaw: We welcome the agreement brokered by the Indonesian Government between the warring factions in Maluku to end the fighting. However, this is only the first small step to reconcile the warring communities and start the process of reconstruction and repatriation. The British Government have consistently made clear their view that long-term solutions to regional conflicts in Indonesia can be achieved only through negotiation and consultation, and that extremists who

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break the law should be dealt with firmly to allow space for reconciliation efforts to take root. The arrest of Laskar Jihad leader, Ja'far Umar Thalib, for inciting the violence against the Christian village of Soya on 28 April was a positive step.

The UK, with our EU partners, has urged the Indonesian Government to build on this early, fragile, peace and implement in full their security and law enforcement obligations under the terms of the peace agreements. The Department for International Development (DFID) has pledged more than £4 million to help establish the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Conflict Prevention and Recovery Unit in Jakarta.

Middle East

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the incidents in which British citizens have been (a) killed and (b) wounded in (i) Israel and (ii) the territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority since 1 September 2000; and if he will make a statement. [55996]

Mr. Bradshaw: We have been made aware of four fatalities and seven injuries since September 2000 involving British nationals. One death and two injuries were as a result of suicide bombs, and three fatalities and four injuries from shooting incidents in the west bank and Israeli/Lebanese border region. The majority of incidents involved dual UK/Israeli nationals resident in the area.

Recently, three British peace protesters were also injured in the west bank following the Israeli invasion of the area.

Our travel advice strongly advises against travel to the west bank and Gaza.

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement as to whether the allegations of a massacre in Jenin were accurate. [56217]

Mr. Bradshaw: Human Rights Watch in their report on the IDF military operations into Jenin have confirmed that at least 52 Palestinians were killed. The Israeli Government estimate is similar.

The UN General Assembly has passed a resolution requesting that the Secretary-General present a report, drawing on the available resources and information, on the recent events that took place in Jenin and in other Palestinian cities. We shall support the Secretary-General in this and look forward to his report.

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of evidence produced by the Israeli Government supporting their allegation of support by Chairman Arafat for terrorists. [56218]

Mr. Bradshaw: We have seen the dossier, but cannot verify its authenticity. The EU Commissioner for External Affairs, Chris Patten, has made it clear that he has seen no hard evidence corroborating claims about the misuse of EU funds. The Palestinian Authority has denied its allegations.

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Eurostat (Polling Questions)

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to Eurostat for the inclusion of polling questions on repatriation of powers. [55696]

Peter Hain: The British Government have not made representations to Eurostat to include questions on this issue and has no plans to do so in the future.

Turkey

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the requirement for Turkey to reform the National Security Council prior to accession to the European Union. [55698]

Peter Hain: Reform of the National Security Council is one of the medium-term priorities in the EU's Turkey Accession Partnership, which sets out key elements of Turkey's pre-accession strategy. The Government continue to support the Accession Partnership as a cornerstone of the EU's policy towards Turkey. The Turkish National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis, agreed in March 2001 as a response to the Accession Partnership, commits Turkey to reviewing the relevant articles of the constitution and other legislation in the medium-term to define more clearly the structure and functions of this council.

Council of Ministers (Definitions)

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his definition is of the Federation of Nation States as discussed at Council meetings; and if he will make a statement. [55693]

Peter Hain: The term "Federation of Nation States" has been used by several European leaders to describe the unique political entity that is the European Union. But it has no formal definitions, accepted by all, whether in Council meetings or elsewhere.

COREPER

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many A points were agreed in each year since 1997 at COREPER; and what proportion of overall items of legislation passed this represents. [55699]

Peter Hain: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The list of A points requiring clearance from London over the past five years amounts to over 8,000 items. These have not been stored in categories that fit easily into the strictures of the above question. The sifting of such a large amount of data would, therefore, amount to man-hours beyond the cost limit.

Li Jing-Feng

Mr. MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Chinese Government about the arrest and disappearance of Catholic Bishop Lucas Li Jing-Feng and his assistant; and if he will make a statement. [47643]

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Mr. MacShane: The fate and whereabouts of Bishop Lucas Li Jing-Feng and his assistant will be raised at the next session of the UK-China human rights dialogue to be held on 15 May.

We raise our concerns about the treatment of Christians in general, as well as some specific cases, with the Chinese both at our biannual human rights dialogue and at other ministerial and official level meetings with the Chinese.

Occupied Territories

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the damage caused, and likely costs of repair, to the Palestinian (a) Ministry of Information, (b) Ministry of Culture, (c) Ministry of Industry, (d) Ministry of Higher Education, (e) PLC, (f) Ministry of Local Government, (g) Presidential Compound, (h) Al-Bireh Municipality, (i) Beitunia Municipality, (j) Ministry of Economy and Trade, (k) Ministry of Social Affairs, (l) Ministry of Health, (m) Ministry of Interior, (n) Ministry of Finance, (o) Ministry of Agriculture, (p) Ministry of Environmental Affairs, (q) Ministry of Education, (r) General Personnel Council, (s) Ministry of Transportation, (t) Ministry of Supply, (u) Ministry of Public Works, (v) Ministry of Civil Affairs, (w) Ramallah Municipality and (x) Vegetable Market building during Israel's military incursion into the west bank during April. [54612]

Clare Short: I have been asked to reply.

A detailed damage assessment is being conducted by the international agencies. A joint World bank/UNSCO (UN Special Coordinator's Office) is due to be circulated by 13 May, and follow up action discussed at a Local Aid Coordination Committee meeting later next week. EU contribution to reconstruction efforts will be considered there (from the Commission and from member states).

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