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Statutory Instruments
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many statutory instruments have been (a) introduced, (b) removed and (c) amended by his Department since 1 January; and what the (i) cost and (ii) saving has been in each case. [64637]
Mr. Straw: A list of statutory instruments which have originated from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since January 2002 are listed as follows. To provide an assessment would incur disproportionate costs.
As from 1 March 2002 explanatory memorandums have been provided for all affirmative instruments as announced by the Leader of the House on Friday 1 February 2002.
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Annual Leave
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the average annual leave entitlement is for staff in his Department in 2002. [64646]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given him by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw) on 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 950W. Leave entitlements have not changed since then. Average leave entitlements could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Nuba Mountains Ceasefire
Mr. Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Nuba Mountains ceasefire agreement; and if he will make a statement. [64807]
Mr. MacShane: The Nuba Mountains ceasefire agreement is working well. Both the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A have participated fully in the Joint Military Commission. This has resulted in redeployment of Government troops out of the relevant sectors and of the SPLM/A forces into agreed positions. Humanitarian assistance is being delivered to a region to which access had been denied for a considerable period. The population of the area now enjoys freedom of movement and the ability to cultivate on a wider scale than has proved possible in recent years. The agreement runs out next month. We hope that the ceasefire will be extended and have called on the parties to agree to this outcome.
Sudan
Mr. Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in the unit headed by the Special Representative to Sudan are (a) his Department's staff and (b) DFID staff; and what proportion, in (i) cash and (ii) percentage terms, of the budget of the office is provided by his Department. [64806]
Mr. MacShane: The Sudan Unit's full-time complement is currently one DFID and three FCO officials. This is in addition to the UK Special Representative and the part-time legal adviser. The unit's staff costs are paid by the officers' parent Departments. The unit can also make recommendations about the use of FCO and DFID programme funds in support of peace, human rights and humanitarian assistance.
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Mr. Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) dates and (b) venues of meetings between the Sudanese ambassador in London and Ministers in his Department in (a) April, (b) May and (c) June. [64808]
Mr. MacShane: The Sudanese ambassador accompanied the Sudanese presidential peace adviser when he met my noble Friend Baroness Amos at the FCO on 7 May.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason Her Majesty's Government's representative on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights abstained on resolution 2002–11, passed on 2 June. [64958]
Mr. MacShane: The resolution, dated 19 April and sponsored by the African Group, proposed termination of the mandate of the UN Special Representative on Equatorial Guinea. The EU unsuccessfully proposed an amendment to permit continuation of a monitoring mechanism. The EU decided by consensus to abstain on the resolution, together with its associates, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, most of the Latin American and Caribbean countries. In our statement we expressed deep disappointment at the African Group's refusal to negotiate on the text of the resolution, appreciation for the work of the UN Special Representative, profound concern over human rights violations in Equatorial Guinea, and deep regret at the absence of any monitoring mechanism.
The EU remains concerned at human rights violations in Equatorial Guinea. In the context of the recent trials of alleged coup plotters, the EU issued a Declaration urging the Government to respect their rights.
Political Union
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's understanding of the meaning of the phrase "political union" in the Laeken declaration; and if he will cite the previous occurrences of that phrase in documents agreed upon by the European Council. [64704]
Peter Hain: The term "political union" has been used at several European Councils to describe the unique political relationship that exists between members of the European Union, as set out in the European treaties. It has no formal definition, accepted by all, whether in Council meetings or elsewhere.
The term has appeared in a number of documents agreed by the European Council in the past: annexe 1 of the presidency conclusions of the Vienna European
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Council 11–12 December 1998; and in conclusions to the Dublin, Rome and Maastricht European Councils in April and December 1990 and December 1991 respectively.
Western Sahara
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU colleagues regarding the referendum plan for western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [64598]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: UK officials are in regular contact with our EU colleagues. We continue to support the efforts of the UN in trying to find a just and durable resolution to the western Sahara dispute.
Turkey
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Turkish Government regarding the treatment of members of the Kurdish Rights and Freedom party in (a) Dujaibakin and (b) other cities. [64605]
Peter Hain: On 19–20 June, a senior official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office led a UK delegation at the first formal UK/Turkey Human Rights Dialogue, in Ankara. There was a frank and constructive discussion of the human rights situation in Turkey, the measures recently taken to improve it and what remains to be done to ensure the rights of all, including the Kurds.
Morocco
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Morocco regarding their treatment of mourners at the funeral of Fadel Ismail. [64599]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I have not received any reports of a Moroccan presence at Fadel Ismail's funeral, which took place near Tindouf in Algeria. There were reports of some disturbance at events in western Sahara after the funeral.
As neither representatives of Mr. Ismail's family nor the Polisario nor the Algerian Government raised this matter with us, we have made no representations to the Government of Morocco regarding their treatment of mourners at the funeral of Fadel Ismail.
Seville
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the size was of the delegation from the UK for the European Council meeting in Seville. [64821]
Peter Hain: The delegation from the UK comprised 18 from No. 10 and the Cabinet Office (including the Prime Minister); 13 from the FCO (including the Foreign Secretary and me); one HM Treasury; and nine security staff.
Taiwan
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support he has provided to the Government of Taiwan in support of Taiwan's application for observer status at the World Health Organisation. [65217]
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Mr. MacShane: Taiwan's relationship to the World Health Organisation was discussed at the World Health Assembly General Committee in May 2002. There was no consensus in the committee for the matter to be discussed in the main assembly session and the matter did not come to a vote.
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