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Volunteering

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the provision of free checks for volunteers wishing to work with young and vulnerable people in the voluntary sector. [57048]

Hilary Benn: We are firmly committed to supporting and promoting all types of volunteering. Therefore the highest levels of disclosures issued by the Criminal Records Bureau—standard and enhanced disclosures, which include those working with children and vulnerable people—are issued free of charge to volunteers in any sector.

Ministerial Visits

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next plans to visit India and Pakistan. [60571]

Mr. Blunkett: I have no present plans to visit either India or Pakistan.

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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

City of London Corporation (Events)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those functions, engagements and events which Ministers, his officials and advisers have attended which have been sponsored, funded, promoted and hosted by the City of London Corporation since 1997. [35705]

Peter Hain: The FCO does not keep central records of events, engagements or functions attended by its Ministers, officials and advisers. The cost of answering this question would be disproportionate.

UK Passport Holders

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate how many UK passport holders are in permanent employment elsewhere in the EU. [57303]

Peter Hain: We do not hold information on the specific number of UK passport holders working in other EU countries. This is in keeping with the principle of freedom of movement within the EU, and the need to avoid arrangements which might interfere with individual workers' right to move to and work in other member states.

European Union Satellite Centre

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of the European Union Satellite Centre, with particular reference to co-operation with UK-based image analysis agencies. [57868]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The EU Satellite Centre supports decision-making under the Common Foreign and Security Policy, in particular the European Security and Defence Policy, by providing analysis of satellite imagery and collateral data. The UK-based image analysis agency, (Defence Geographical and Imagery Intelligence Agency (DGIA)) has no formal links with the Satellite Centre but the output of the two organisations is co-ordinated to provide the maximum benefit to the UK. As part of this co-ordination, the UK has placed some tasks on the Satellite Centre, including the update of hydrographic charts, evacuation planning and environmental projects.

Israel

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has recently raised the matter of the possession of nuclear weapons by Israel with the Israeli Government. [57979]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Nuclear issues were discussed in depth during the latest round of non-proliferation talks with Israeli officials, held in March. They have not recently been raised at ministerial level.

We continue to urge Israel to resolve international concerns about its nuclear status by acceding to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state.

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Departmental Pensions

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by his Department on paying pensions to retired employees of his Department in 2001–02; if he will estimate the corresponding amounts to be spent in (a) five years' time, (b) 10 years' time, (c) 20 years' time and (d) 30 years' time; if he will estimate in each case the proportion of such liabilities which will arise from (i) unfunded pension schemes and (ii) pre-funded pension schemes; and in the case of pre-funded schemes, if he will estimate the value of the corresponding pre-funded funds in each of these years. [57368]

Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 20 May 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 23 May 2002 by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr. Leslie), Official Report, column 561W.

Unpaid Advisers

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 62W, what the (a) names and (b) responsibilities are of unpaid advisers who have assisted the work of his Department since June 1997 but are not included in (i) the Cabinet Office's annual report 'Task Forces, Ad Hoc Advisory Groups and Reviews 2000–01' and (ii) his previous answer. [57036]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: [holding answer 21 May 2002]: I am aware of none.

Yasser Arafat

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Her Majesty's Government's policy is towards the title and status of Mr. Yasser Arafat. [58656]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Yasser Arafat is President of the Palestinian National Authority and Chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation. The Arabic word for "Chairman" and "President" is the same. We use both.

International Labour Conference

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues will be given priority by the Government's representatives on the UK delegation to the International Labour Conference in Geneva in June. [58374]

Mr. MacShane: As in previous years, the Government delegation will participate fully in a wide range of discussions and will be fully represented in all the relevant Committees at the International Labour Conference. Among the items to which it will give particular attention are: discussions which will lead to new international instruments on co-operatives, and on occupational diseases; a general discussion on the informal economy; the special sitting to discuss Burma/Myanmar; and this year's Global Report on Child Labour. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Member for Croydon, North (Malcolm Wicks), who will be attending part of the Conference, will address a plenary session.

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Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government have taken to implement the resolution on Myanmar adopted at the 88th session of the International Labour Conference in 2000. [58375]

Mr. MacShane: HMG has over many years fully supported the ILO's efforts to permanently end forced labour in Burma. In 1997 the EC suspended Burma's GSP trading privileges in response to concerns about forced labour.

In response to the ILO's recommendations of their 88th session, the then Secretary of State for Education and Employment, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) wrote to employers and workers groups in the UK asking them to review their relations with Burma to ensure they were not assisting the continuance of forced labour in Burma. FCO Ministers also met with representatives of Trades Unions and the Director General of the ILO to discuss promoting the ILO's demands in Burma.

Along with EU colleagues, we have welcomed the appointment of an ILO Liaison Officer in Burma and the recognition that this is an interim step towards the required ILO permanent presence.

International Labour Organisation

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are taking to ensure that states sign the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organisation. [58373]

Mr. MacShane: The UK promotes the widest possible ratification of the ILO core conventions and recognises the need for their practical implementation to achieve real change. We take every appropriate opportunity within the ILO itself, and bilaterally, to urge member states to sign up to the 1998 Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work as well as ratify the core conventions.

Middle East

Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the legal status will be within the EU of the 13 Palestinians who were brought out of Palestine following the end of the siege of the Church of the Nativity. [58654]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The 12 Palestinians accepted by Belgium, Greece, Spain, Ireland, Italy and Portugal are received on a temporary basis and exclusively on humanitarian grounds. In accordance with the Common Position concerning the temporary reception by member states of the European Union of certain Palestinians, the Palestinians will receive a national permit to enter and stay in the territory of the relevant member state for a period of up to 12 months.

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