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Côte d'Ivoire
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether UK observers were present to monitor the recent local elections in Côte d'Ivoire, including the campaign and polling day; and if he will make a statement. [69666]
Mr. MacShane: The UK did not send any observers to cover the Côte d'Ivoire district elections, nor did the European Union. However, members of our embassy visited polling stations in several areas of Abidjan and reported no serious incidents on polling day.
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of the Côte d'Ivoire on the failure to distribute identity cards in time for the local elections on 7 July; and if he will make a statement. [69665]
Mr. MacShane: EU and other western diplomatic missions in Côte d'Ivoire, including our own, were in regular touch with the Ivorian Government and Independent Electoral Commission in the run-up to the elections. They made clear, among other things, the need to ensure that arrangements for voter identification were as comprehensive as possible. The Interior Minister gave an assurance that the distribution of identity cards would continue up to and including polling day itself.
BBC World Service
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the salary of the Director of the BBC World Service and Global News is paid out of his Department's grant to the BBC World Service. [70382]
Mr. MacShane: Mark Byford was appointed Director World Service and Global News in October 2001. As soon as the new division is formally established Mr. Byford's remuneration will initially be met two-thirds from the grant in aid and one third from BBC World. This would be subject to review after a year. Pending the creation of the new division, Mr. Byford's remuneration is met entirely from the grant in aid. His remuneration is set by the BBC Board of Governors, and is published in the BBC Annual Report and the BBC World Service Annual Review.
Polish Steel
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions officials of his Department have held with the Polish Government in relation to the privatisation of the Polish Steel company. [69865]
Peter Hain: FCO officials have regularly discussed with the Polish Government the need to re-structure Poland's steel industry and to bring its support for the sector into line with the European Union rules on state aids. Privatisation is likely to be part of that restructuring.
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The EU has to agree a restructuring plan with the Polish Government before the competition chapter of the EU enlargement negotiations can be closed.
Gibraltar
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has received concerning the status of telephone services between Spain and Gibraltar. [69662]
Peter Hain: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials hosted a meeting on 17 April with representatives of Gibraltar Nynex Communications Ltd. (GNC) and the Government of Gibraltar to discuss the status of telecommunications services between Spain and Gibraltar. On 26 June officials received a follow-up letter on behalf of GNC. We replied on 12 July.
The most recent representation from the Government of Gibraltar on this issue was a letter from the Chief Minister to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 18 March, to which I replied on 19 April.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received regarding changes to the constitution of Gibraltar. [69664]
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Peter Hain: We understand that the Gibraltar House of Assembly Select Committee on Constitutional Reform has produced proposals. The Government of Gibraltar has not yet passed these to Her Majesty's Government. We will consider carefully any proposals we receive.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's latest assessment is of progress with negotiations with Spain concerning Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [69661]
Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 12 July 2002, Official Report, column 1165.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what members of his Department participated in public ceremonies celebrating the Golden Jubilee on Gibraltar; if he will list the ceremonies on Gibraltar members of his Department attended; and if he will make a statement regarding the celebration of the Golden Jubilee on Gibraltar. [69660]
Peter Hain: To date there have been a total of 10 public events in Gibraltar in celebration of HM the Queen's Golden Jubilee. In addition to those events hosted by His Excellency the Governor (and detailed in my reply to the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker) at column 391W, the following events have taken place:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3 June | Golden Jubilee Celebrations at Nuffield Pool (including fireworks and lighting of a beacon) |
| 8 June | Golden Jubilee Concert—St. Michael's Cave |
| 10 June | Inter-faith Service of Thanksgiving |
| 13 June | Queen's Birthday/Golden Jubilee Parade at the Victoria Stadium |
| 13 June | Queen's Golden Jubilee Command Reception |
| 10–21 June | Model Soldier Exhibition to commemorate HM the Queen's Golden Jubilee |
| 27 June | Golden Jubilee Celebration Concert at St. Michael's Cave |
His Excellency the Governor, together with other members of his staff, attended all the events.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Golden Jubilee celebrations took place hosted by the Governor of Gibraltar; what the costs were; and what local elected officials were invited to the functions. [69658]
Peter Hain: The Governor hosted a Tree-Planting Ceremony on 6 February, a Golden Jubilee Medal Presentation on 7 June and HM the Queen's Golden Jubilee Garden Party on 14 June. The costs were £913, £458 and £8,630 respectively. All local elected representatives were invited to the Tree Planting ceremony and the Garden Party. The Medal Presentation was a purely military affair.
The Governor also took the Royal Salute at the Queen's Birthday/Golden Jubilee Parade on 13 June and was guest of honour at the reception which followed. Both these events were arranged and funded by the Ministry of Defence.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has received from Spain regarding allegations of smuggling from Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [69663]
Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to the right hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) on 7 May 2002, Official Report, column 151W.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many individuals who live in Spain work in Gibraltar. [68455R]
Peter Hain: The Government of Gibraltar do not have these figures available.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the average length of time spent at Yarl's Wood is from arrival to removal from this country; [38664]
- (2) whether any persons at Yarl's Wood awaiting removal have been at Yarl's Wood for over (a) 14, (b) 21, (c) 28, (d) 35 and (e) 42 days; [38663]
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(3) how many of those persons who are still at large following the Yarl's Wood fire are (a) current asylum seekers and (b) failed asylum seekers awaiting removal; [38665]
(4) if any of those removed from Yarl's Wood into prisons since the fire are current asylum seekers; [38668]
(5) what proportion of those who escaped from Yarl's Wood following the fire but were recaptured were (a) current asylum seekers and (b) failed asylum seekers awaiting removal; [38671]
(6) how many of the persons detained at Yarl's Wood are (a) awaiting removal and (b) in the process of making an asylum claim. [38666]
Beverley Hughes [holding answer 28 February 2002]: In terms of the status of those individuals who have been transferred to Prison Service accommodation from Yarl's Wood, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend, the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) on 20 March 2002, Official Report, column 411W.
The majority of the individuals who are considered to be at large from Yarl's Wood are failed asylum seekers who were detained pending their removal or the outcome of outstanding appeals.
The remaining information requested is not available and could be obtained only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many clandestine entrants were found in (a) freight trains and (b) lorries in each year since 1997. [68806]
Beverley Hughes: The figures for clandestine entrants found in freight trains have only been recorded separately since 2001.
In 2001, locally collated, provisional statistics show that 1,563 clandestines arrived at Dollands Moor rail freight depot having boarded an open sided freight shuttle. For the 1st quarter of 2002 the figure was 454.
The annual figures for clandestine entrants found in lorries and dealt with by Dover Immigration staff were 969 in 1997, 3,274 in 1998, 8,961 in 1999, 12,717 in 2000 and 6,397 in 2001. For the 1st quarter of 2002 the figure is 2,709.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the asylum application of a constituent the name of whom has been communicated to him. [70362]
Beverley Hughes [holding answer 16 July 2002]: The hon. Gentleman's constituent's application for asylum was refused on 30 August 2000 and an independent adjudicator upheld this decision on 23 March 2001. He currently has an application for leave to remain here on the basis of marriage, on 15 June 2001, to a British Citizen. On 6 November 2001 the hon. Gentleman's constituent was asked to provide further information in support of this application and I understand that he passed this to his solicitors to forward to the Home Office. This has not been received and my officials will be contacting him shortly to provide further information regarding his marriage.
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