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India

Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the Delhi Declaration. [66171]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: As my hon. Friend, the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), stated in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockton South (Dari Taylor) on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 829W, the New Delhi Declaration of 6 January 2002 represents a new high-water mark in the strong and vibrant relationship between the United Kingdom and India. This relationship has been marked in recent months by better co-operation in a variety of areas of common interest.

We remain committed to increasing co-operation with India under the provisions set out in the Declaration, and are confident it will help to further strengthen UK/Indian relations.

Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of India about combating terrorism. [66174]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We discuss terrorism with the Indian government on a regular basis. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, has a regular dialogue on terrorism with his counterparts in the Indian Ministries for External and Home Affairs. The Foreign Secretary has spoken with Indian Ministers on the telephone on a number of occasions recently about the tension between India and Pakistan and terrorism. Terrorism was also high on the agenda when he visited New Delhi in May. The Foreign Secretary will continue this dialogue with the in coming Indian Foreign Minister, Yashwant Sinha. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also discussed terrorism with Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee during his visit to India in January. During this visit the two Prime Ministers agreed to enhance significantly our co-operation on combating terrorism. In addition to these contracts, the UK-India Joint Working Group on Terrorism meets every six months at official level to discuss international terrorism and opportunities for co-operation and training. The last meeting of the Group was in April in London.

Recycling

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of (a) paper and (b) other goods purchased by his

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Department was recycled paper in each year since 1997; what the annual total cost of these purchases was; what plans there are to increase these proportions; and if he will make a statement. [65771]

Mr. MacShane: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost as detailed records were not kept for the full period in question. Since October 2001 the FCO has bought only 100 per cent. recycled printer and photocopier paper for use by its UK Departments. We are looking at ways to increase procurement of other recycled stationery products.

Departmental Waste

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of waste produced in his Department was (a) recycled, (b) composted and (c) re-used, broken down into (i) paper, (ii) plastics, (iii) aluminium cans and (iv) other in each year since 1997; what plans there are to increase these proportions; and if he will make a statement. [65700]

Mr. MacShane: This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost since we do not keep records in the requested format. The breakdowns below represent the information supplied for Green Minister's reports for 2000–01 and 2001–02.

tonnes

	2002–01	2001–02
Total waste	3,389.88	1,343.21
Total waste recovered	824.28 (24.32%)	415.16 (30.91%)
Details of waste recycled
Paper	180.00	162.52
Toner cartridges	2.29	1.38
Fluorescent tubes	0.59	1.94
Metal and wood	n/a	16.2
Batteries recycled	n/a	1.24
Special waste (oils)	n/a	2.26

The FCO will be re-tendering its waste contracts later this year. We aim to increase the amount of waste recycled in line with Green Minister's targets.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received in respect of conflict between the Rwandan Army and dissident Banyamulenge forces in South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement. [66323]

Mr. MacShane: The South Kivu area of DRC is relatively inaccessible. Reliable information is scarce. But there are worrying NGO reports that the fighting between dissident Banyamulenge forces and the RCD-Goma/Rwandan Army is causing a humanitarian crisis for the people of the Hauts Plateaux. We have raised this matter with the Government of Rwanda and in the UN Security Council.

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Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security and humanitarian situation in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [66322]

Mr. MacShane: We continue to monitor closely the situation in eastern DRC. In particular, we have been concerned over fighting in Kisangani, Ituri province and the Hauts Plateaux in south Kivu, the associated abuses of human rights and the negative impact on the humanitarian situation. Where the security situation permits we have encouraged the United Nations Mission (MONUC) to investigate and to take appropriate action. We have raised our concerns with the governments of the region. We have supported UN resolutions and EU statements calling on the de facto authorities of the region to ensure the protection of civilians, respect human rights and uphold the rule of law.

Staff (Health and Safety)

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what his responsibility is for the health and safety of his Department's staff deployed abroad; [66108]

(2) what his policy is on health and safety in British embassies. [66110]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The FCO's policy on the Health and Safety of its staff is the same both at home and overseas that is to keep staff safe at work, so far as is reasonably practicable. Statutory duties under UK law (eg the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994) do not apply overseas. However, as a good employer, the FCO accepts its responsibility to try to provide the same duty of care to all its employees.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which overseas Governments have notified him (a) that they accept and (b) that they do not accept (i) the result and (ii) the legitimacy of the Zimbabwean presidential elections. [65998]

Mr. MacShane [holding answer 1 July 2002]: The European Union, the United States, Norway, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and others, have gone on record as saying that they do not accept that the election result reflected the will of the Zimbabwean people.

The Commonwealth, SADC Parliamentary Forum, and Japanese election observer teams reported that the election was not free and fair.

The Ghanaian election observer team reported that the election process fell short of the internationally accepted electoral standards and norms. President Wade of Senegal has said that

XMr Mugabe did not respect the rules. We can't call that an election."

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Several countries in Africa and elsewhere have gone on record as accepting the outcome of the election, though a number have qualified their assessments.

US Peacekeeping

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations the UK Government, in its capacity as a United Nations Security Council member, is making to the USA in respect of the resolution proposed by the latter exempting UN peacekeepers from each jurisdiction of any international tribunal including the International Criminal Court and what steps the UK Government are taking to ensure that UN peacekeepers will not be exempt form the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court; [66228]

(2) what representations the UK Government are making to the USA about the latter's continued commitment to its global peacekeeping and enforcement activities and the basis upon which such commitments are carried out. [66229]

Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has been in close touch with his US counterpart on the draft Security Council resolution renewing the mandate for UNMIBH/SFOR peacekeeping forces in Bosnia.

The Government are committed to an effective International Criminal Court. We understand US concerns for their peacekeepers but do not share them. We are working with the US and other UN Security Council Members to achieve a solution acceptable to Security Council Members which will enable the US to continue to participate in international peacekeeping.

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