---

20 Jan 2003 : Column 79W—continued

Guyana

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on levels of criminal and political instability in Guyana; and what recent discussions he has had with the government of that country. [91312]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, is concerned at the political impasse in Guyana, and the rising levels of crime resulting from the deadlock. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) regularly engages with Guyanese politicians to discuss the political situation there, and register concerns on the escalation in crime.

My right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, last met President Jagdeo and the leader of the opposition, the late Desmond Hoyte, in April 2002 to discuss the political situation. My noble Friend, Baroness Amos met President Jagdeo four times in the last year in April, May and September and most recently during her visit to Guyana in November 2002. We keep in close contact with Guyanese politicians through our High Commissioner in Georgetown. The FCO is following closely the Commonwealth Secretary General's efforts to mediate between the two parties. The FCO and Department for International Development (DFID) have provided help to assist the Commonwealth Secretary General's efforts to facilitate a resumption of talks between the two parties.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government has had with the government of Guyana on holding their local government elections. [91319]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, has had no direct discussions with the Government of Guyana on holding their local government elections. The local elections in Guyana have been deferred for one year due to the political impasse. The deadlock is a continuing cause for concern. An escalation in crime and violence has further heightened the need for constructive political dialogue to take place.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) regularly engages with Guyanese politicians about the political situation in Guyana. We keep in close contact with Guyanese politicians through our High Commissioner in Georgetown.

Indonesia

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Indonesia following the prohibition of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community from practising their religion by local authorities in the Kuningan Regency; and if he will make a statement. [90958]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The British Government condemns the persecution of individuals because of their faith. We regularly impress on the Indonesian

20 Jan 2003 : Column 80W

authorities the importance of upholding and promoting human rights and religious freedoms throughout the country.

Our Embassy in Jakarta has reported that the local authorities carried out the banning order in Kuningan Regency and it is unclear whether central government in Jakarta is aware. Our Ambassador has written to the Department for Religious Affairs to request further information.

International Law

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on taking action under international law and conventions against Governments who starve their own people. [91265]

Mr. Rammell: States Parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognise the right of individuals to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food. They undertake to take steps to the maximum of their resources to achieve progressively the full realisation of this right. They are obliged to report every five years on the implementation of such obligations to a UN Committee monitoring the treaty. That Committee gives a public view about a State Party's record of implementation. The Covenant does not provide for other international action where a State Party might be considered to be in breach of the Covenant. But the international community can address this in appropriate for a such as the UN Commission on Human Rights in order to defend international standards.

Iran

Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the terms are of the UK arms embargo on Iran. [91571]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Andy King) by the then Minister of State at the Foreign Office my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr Lloyd) on 28 January 1998, Official Report, column 273–74.

Iraq

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evaluation he has made of the ability of the UN oil for food programme to continue in the event of war in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [91123]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: No decision has been taken to launch military action against Iraq and military action is not inevitable. The future of the oil for food programme in the event of any military action would depend on the circumstances at the time. The UN is preparing for all eventualities.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to his US counterpart regarding the protection of water and sanitation supplies in the event of military intervention in Iraq; [91124]

20 Jan 2003 : Column 81W

(2) what representations he has made to his US counterpart regarding the protection of food security in the event of military intervention in Iraq. [91125]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: No decision has been taken to launch military action against Iraq and military action is not inevitable. We regularly discuss all aspects of Iraq policy with our US colleagues.

Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what parts of the Iraqi document on weapons of mass destruction of 8 December 2002 were released to the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council; and what the response has been of those non-permanent members. [91345]

Mr. Rammell: Under relevant non-proliferation conventions, China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America are obliged to prevent the dissemination of information relating to the production of biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons.

The President of the UN Security Council therefore decided that the full Iraqi declaration should be given only to these members of the Security Council, who also have the expertise to assess the risks of proliferation. His decision followed consultations with all members of the Security Council.

The non-permanent members received the main body of the Declaration excluding a number of sensitive passages and words that were omitted by UNMOVIC and the IAEA who, after consulting the Security Council members with expertise to assess the risks of proliferation, judged them to contain information which might be of use to potential WMD proliferators.

Several non-permanent members have expressed a wish to see the complete declaration. There continues to be discussion on whether arrangements should be made to enable non-permanent members to consult a copy of the full Declaration.

Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what procedures the United States gained first access to Iraq's document of 8 December 2002 on weapons of mass destruction. [91346]

Mr. Rammell: Under relevant non-proliferation conventions, China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America are obliged to prevent the dissemination of information relating to the production of biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons.

The President of the UN Security Council therefore decided that the full Iraqi declaration should be given only to these members of the Security Council who also have the expertise to assess the risks of proliferation. His decision followed consultations with all members of the Security Council.

ISAF

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he and the international community have to extend ISAF beyond Kabul. [90908]

20 Jan 2003 : Column 82W

Mr. Mike O'Brien: There are currently no plans to adjust ISAF's mandate. UNSCR 1444, adopted unanimously on 27 November 2002 following discussions among UN Security Council members, extends the existing ISAF mandate until 20 December 2003. As defined in UNSCR 1386 of 20 December 2001, this authorises ISAF to operate in Kabul and the surrounding area only.

Israel

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of (a) British citizens and (b) foreign nationals who have been (i) denied entry to Israel and (ii) deported from Israel over the last two years. [91572]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: (a) (i) The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep statistics of British citizens denied entry to Israel.

(ii) We do, however keep records on British nationals deported from Israel, which show that 12 British citizens have been deported from Israel in the last two

years.

(b) The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep details of other foreign nationals denied entry to, or deported from, Israel.

---