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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the reconstruction programme in Afghanistan. [96473]

Clare Short: I have been asked to reply.

Substantial progress has been made since November 2001. The effectiveness of the reconstruction programme has depended on joint efforts by the UN, the international community, the private sector, NGO's and the Government.

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The Transitional Administration has set out a National Development Framework for Afghanistan and the Ministry of Finance and Central bank have rebuilt the central financial systems of government and have started to collect domestic revenues. 3 million children have returned to school. 4.5 million are expected to attend in the new school year, starting at the end of March. The major Kabul-Kandahar-Herat road, Kabul-Jalalabad road, and Pakistan border to Jalalabad road are being refurbished. The World bank is supporting the rebuilding of Kabul power station and airport.

However, much more remains to be done. Effective development in Afghanistan requires greater security in the provinces, strengthened capacity of the Transitional Administration and the continued commitment of the international community. The forthcoming Development Forum meeting of donors and the Transitional Administration in Kabul in March will discuss next steps in implementing the Government's National Development Framework.

Al-Qaeda Radio Stations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether al-Qaeda radio stations operate from inside Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [96983]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Al Qaeda operatives communicate in a variety of clandestine ways. We are not aware of any Al Qaeda radio stations in Afghanistan.

Botswana

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to provide assistance to the Government of Botswana in dealing with the flow of illegal immigrants entering the country from Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [96297]

Mr. Straw: None. The Government of Botswana have sought no assistance from us. We will consider any requests sympathetically.

Burma

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sanctions have been imposed by the EU against members of the Burmese Government; whether persons who are subject to sanctions can enter the EU; and if he will make a statement. [96193]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The EU visa ban is targeted towards Senior Members of the Burmese State Peace and Development Council, senior members of the military and security forces who formulate, implement or benefit from policies that impede Burma's transition to democracy, senior Burmese tourism officials and the family members of all the categories listed above.

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People covered by the ban are not allowed to enter the EU unless they are visiting the EU for the sole purposes of attending United Nations' events. In the case of the Burmese Foreign Minister, there is also provision for a visa to be issued when, by the agreement of all member states, the visit is deemed to be in the interests of the European Union.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which members of the Burmese Government are subject to EU sanctions; and if he will make a statement. [96181]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The EU Common Position visa ban and asset freeze is targeted on Senior Members of the Burmese State Peace and Development Council, senior members of the military and security forces who formulate, implement or benefit from policies that impede Burma's transition to democracy, senior Burmese tourism officials and the family members of all the categories listed above. It is reviewed and updated regularly, most recently in October 2002.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of EU sanctions in promoting human rights in Burma. [96182]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The EU Common Position contains an arms embargo, a ban on EU high-level visits to Burma, a ban on defence links, a ban on the sale of items that can be used for repression or torture, a ban on non-humanitarian assistance and a visa ban and asset freeze on senior members of the regime and armed forces. In addition the European Community suspended Burma's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) trading privileges in response to the use of forced labour and HMG does not encourage trade, investment or tourism with Burma.

All these measures are designed to press the Burmese regime and those who support and benefit from its misrule to allow progress to be made to bring about national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy in Burma. UK pressure will be maintained until Burma is irreversibly committed to substantive, lasting political change.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister, who attended the EU-ASEAN meeting in Brussels on 27 and 28 January, was subject to EU sanctions; what representations his Department made to EU partners on the matter; and if he will make a statement. [96192]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The EU visa ban applies to senior members of the Burmese State Peace and Development Council. The Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister, U Khin Maung Win, is a Vice-Minister, not a full Minister, and is therefore not subject to the ban.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has

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collated on improvements in human rights in Burma between January 2002 and January 2003; and if he will make a statement. [96183]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The overall human rights situation in Burma remains extremely poor and a matter of grave concern.

There were some very modest improvements in limited areas of human rights in Burma between January 2002 and January 2003, such as the release of political prisoners—over 200 in this period, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and some cooperation between the Burmese regime, the United Nations and certain international non-governmental organisations.

However, these limited improvements do not provide any assurance that the Burmese regime is now committed to substantively improving its human rights record or ending the violence and abuses in the ethnic minority areas of Burma. And since autumn 2002 there has been increasing reports of fresh restrictions of freedom of expression and politically inspired detentions and arrests in Burma.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to seek the improvement of human rights in Burma; and if he will make a statement. [96184]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The EU Common Position is designed to encourage national reconciliation respect for human rights and democracy in Burma. The UK annually co-sponsors resolutions on the human rights situation in Burma at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and the UN Commission on Human Rights. On 20 January, the UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations made a statement in the UN that included expressing concern at the use of child soldiers in Burma. We are active in the International Labour Organisation to seek to press for the end of forced labour in Burma. We also use bilateral and multilateral events to press for rapid and sustained improvements in Burma's human rights record.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department have had with ASEAN nations regarding the promotion of human rights in Burma; and if he will make a statement. [96185]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We take advantage of our regular bilateral and multilateral contacts with all ASEAN nations to press for an improvement in Burma's human rights record. Most recently on 27 January my right hon. the Foreign Secretary stressed to ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Brussels the need for all countries to encourage national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy in Burma.

Cayman Islands

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for British legal links with the Cayman Islands of the collapse of the Eurobank case; and if he will make a statement. [93959]

Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 28 February 2003]: None. The legal relationship remains unchanged as set out in the Cayman Island Constitution.

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Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the conduct of the UK security services in the issues which caused the collapse of the Eurobank case in the Cayman Islands; and if he will make a statement. [93961]

Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 28 January 2003]: It is not the policy of HMG to comment on the activities of the UK security services, which are outside the scope of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (paragraph 6, part 1).

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on (a) the Eurobank case and (b) relations with the Government of the Cayman Islands. [93962]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Eurobank case was brought to trial on the basis of serious money laundering charges. The trial came to an end when the Attorney General decided to offer no further evidence. The Chief Justice then directed the jury to find the four defendants not-guilty on each of the six charges.

Our aim, with the Cayman Islands authorities, has been to take action against allegations of money laundering. This objective should enjoy widespread support in the Cayman Islands if its reputation as a well-regulated and reputable financial centre is to be preserved.

My noble Friend Baroness Amos, Overseas Territories Minister, has been in regular touch (both by letter and telephone) with the Leader of Government Business in the Cayman Islands to discuss the issues raised. She plans to visit Grand Cayman as part of a long-planned Caribbean trip in mid-February.

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