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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 24 May 2002
PRIME MINISTER
Kyoto Protocol
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Prime Minister when he will next meet the President of the United States of America to discuss the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change; and if he will make a statement. [58367]
The Prime Minister: I have regular discussions with President Bush on a wide range of international issues. I expect to see him next on 28 May in Rome for the NATO/Russia Summit and on 25–27 June in Kananaskis for the G8 Summit.
We welcome the US's recognition that climate change is a serious problem and the fact that they are taking domestic action. The UK continues to believe that the Kyoto Protocol remains the only workable basis to take forward international action to tackle climate change. We are maintaining a constructive dialogue with US ministers and officials.
Illegal Timber Trade
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Prime Minister what measures the United Kingdom will be proposing to tackle the illegal timber trade at the G8 Heads of State meeting in Vancouver, Canada. [56673]
The Prime Minister: The UK led the G8 work on illegal logging in the 1998 action plan, and has taken many actions to support measures by timber producing countries to control illegal logging. The G8 report on the action programme on forests will be published in the run-up to the G8 meeting in Canada. We want to concentrate on implementation of the programme.
Euro
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Prime Minister if it is his policy to introduce legislation to allow a referendum on whether Britain should join the euro to Parliament before the five economic tests are assessed as having been met. [59807]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave the right hon. Members for Ross, Skye and Inverness West (Mr. Kennedy) and for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) in the House on Wednesday 22 May, Official Report, columns 286–7 and 289–90.
European Commission
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions (a) his Office and (b) the Government have held with the European Commission on the appointment of the next head of the Commission Representation in the United Kingdom; when that post will become vacant; if
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the role of the Commission in a single currency referendum has been discussed, with particular reference to influencing public opinion; and if he will make a statement. [58770]
The Prime Minister: The Government has kept in close contact with the Commission as the recruitment procedure moves forward, while, naturally, respecting the Commission's independence in this process.
The Commission has Representations in all Member States. Their role is to represent the Commission to the media, report to the Commission on political, economic and social development in the host state, and disseminate information about the EU through recognised outlets.
The Government's position on the Single Currency remains a matter for the Government.
The position was advertised as the subject of an open competition on 17 July 2001. An exact date for appointment of the new incumbent will depend on his or her individual circumstances.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Prime Minister when he was first informed of the (a) candidates and (b) short list for the replacement for the head of the Commission delegation to the UK. [58773]
The Prime Minister: The Commission has kept the Government informed at all stages about the procedure for the selection of the next Head of the European Commission Representation to the UK.
The shortlist for the open competition for the position was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 21 March of this year.
Scottish Executive
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to his office since May 1999 broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date the representation was made; [59505] (2) how many times his Office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999 broken down by (a) the Scottish Executive department approached, (b) subject of the representation and (c) date the representation was made. [59506]
The Prime Minister: Information is not available in the form requested. Both formal and informal contacts take place regularly between Government departments, including the Scotland Office, and departments of the Scottish Executive. My Office and the Scottish Executive are in contact from time to time. In addition, I have meetings with the First Minister on a regular basis, both bilaterally and through the Joint Ministerial Committee, to discuss matters of mutual interest.
Reserved Powers
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to transfer the administration of reserved powers or functions of UK government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within their remit from those departments to the Scotland Office. (59504)
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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Timber
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what areas were identified under the G8 programme of action on forests where the United Kingdom needed to improve its performance to combat the trade in illegally harvested timber; [56671] (2) what action the United Kingdom (a) has taken and (b) intends to take to follow up the G8 action programme on forests, agreed at the Birmingham G8 meeting in 1998; [56672] (3) what work has been taken, under the G8 action programme of action on forests by the United Kingdom to develop and implement counter measures against the trade in illegally harvested timber. [56674]
Clare Short: The UK led the G8 work on illegal logging in the 1998 action plan. The G8 report on the action programme on forests will be published in the run-up to the G8 meeting in Canada. It identifies the actions that have been taken by G8 members to combat illegal logging and associated trade. The UK has taken many actions to support measures by timber producing countries to control illegal logging. These include access to better information and analysis, establishment of monitoring and verification processes and policy and institutional reforms.
Internationally we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia that commits both parties to work together to combat illegal logging and stop the trade in illegally logged timber between our countries. This important bilateral agreement for joint action by producer and consumer countries is the first of its kind. It is highly influential and is acting as a catalyst for the development of further agreements.
In addition to our work within the G8 action programme we are working within the EU and with international organisations to broaden the base of countries engaged in actions to control illegal logging. The EU is developing an action programme that is examining the need for new legislation to provide effective enforcement. The UK, with others, is supporting a forest law enforcement process in Africa that will learn from the successful process started in Asia last year. We need to demonstrate progress with bilateral agreements and build these into regional and multilateral arrangements.
Domestically the Government now requires all Departments to seek to procure only legally and sustainably harvested timber and wood products.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Chemical Weapons
Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will be governed until a replacement for Jose Bustani is appointed. [57950]
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Mr. Bradshaw: The Executive Council, which is the Executive organ of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, will continue to function as normal. Its next meeting is on 31 May. The Director-General heads the Technical Secretariat that is responsible for assisting the Executive Council in the performance of its function. Until a new Director-General is appointed, the Technical Secretariat will be headed by the Deputy Director-General.
Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects a new Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to be appointed. [57949]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Special Conference of States Parties (The Hague, 21–24 April) decided that it would reconvene no later than 10 June to appoint a new Director-General, following the formal recommendation of the Executive Council which is due to meet on 31 May.
Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries that are members of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. [57948]
Mr. Bradshaw: There are currently 145 State Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). All States Parties to the CWC are members of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). They are as follows: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Fiji, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
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Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many chemical weapons inspectors have been employed by the OPCW in each year since its creation; and what the projected numbers are for 2003; [58088]
- (2) if he will list the staff at directorate and branch head level in the OPCW, together with the nationality of the (a) current and (b) immediate past incumbent. [58087]
Mr. Bradshaw: We do not hold this information. We will make enquiries and I will write to my hon. Friend, and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaneau Gwent (Llew Smith), of 8 May, Official Report, column 241W, on the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, if he will make a statement on the reasons underlying his assessement that Mr. Bustani has lost confidence of a significant number of the OPCW's Executive Council. [57938]
Mr. Bradshaw: The assessment was based on the views expressed by members of the OPCW represented on the Executive Council. It was borne out by the subsequent vote in which 17 supported the vote of no confidence, 18 abstained and only 5 opposed.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his definition is of major shareholder in the context of member states of the OPCW; and what the implications are of the definition for the independence of the organisations. [58091]
Mr. Bradshaw: There is no agreed definition of a major shareholder in the context of the OPCW. The use of this term has no implications for the independence of the Organisation, where each member has one vote. This term has, however, occasionally been used to describe those members who have continually been represented on the Executive Council, and the six largest financial contributors who provide approximately 70 per cent of the OPCW budget (the US, Japan, Germany, France, the UK and Italy).
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