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24 Feb 2003 : Column 243W—continued
Child Abduction
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps her Department takes to discharge its obligations in relation to rights of access under Article 21 of the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction in the circumstances where the left-behind parent is in the UK and the abducted child is with its other parent in a state that has ratified the Hague Convention. [98250]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Article 21 of the Hague Convention allows applications via the designated Central Authorities to make arrangements for organising or securing the effective exercise of rights of access. Any parent resident in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, whose child is resident in another Hague Convention country, may apply to the Child Abduction Unit (which discharges the Lord Chancellor's functions as Central Authority under the 1980 Hague Convention). The unit will transmit the application to its counterpart in the other country, monitor the case, liaise with all interested parties and assist as necessary, for example with applications for legal aid.
Freedom of Information
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress towards Government targets for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [98064]
Yvette Cooper: Pursuant to section 87(5) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 a full report on the progress being made on implementation of the Act was laid before both Houses on 28 November 2002 (HC6). In line with this requirement a further report will be laid before the House before the end of November this year. In the meantime, the Act continues to be implemented according to the timetable announced by my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor on 13 November 2001, Official Report, column 457.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Diego Garcia
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stocks of landmines were held in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 on Diego Garcia; what stocks are held there now; whose authority they are under; and if he will make a statement. [96389]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We have received assurances from the US authorities that no anti-personnel landmines were stored on Diego Garcia during 2001 or 2002. In contrast to anti-personnel landmines, anti-tank mines are not banned weapons under international law and are not subject to ban under international treaties. No anti-tank mines were stored on Diego Garcia by the British authorities in 2001 or 2002. The storing of such mines by the US authorities would be a matter for them under the various international agreements regulating their defence facility on the island.
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Capita
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings (a) he and his Ministers of State, and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State, (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Special Advisers and (c) Foreign and Commonwealth officials have had with Capita employees and members of the Capita board since May 2001; what the purpose was of each meeting; and if he will make a statement. [98573]
Mr. Rammell: As with previous Administrations, and in line with exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it is not this Government's normal practice to release details of specific meetings or their content, as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code, and Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists. Copies of these documents are available in the Libraries of the House.
Departmental Properties
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to sell the San Francisco Consulate's residence; and if he will make a statement. [98125]
Mr. Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 25 November 2002 (Official Report, column 79W). Officials will visit San Francisco again in March to assess the market and survey possible properties for purchase.
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ambassadorial and consular offices and houses have been sold since 1997; and where these were. [98126]
Mr. Rammell: In the financial years from 1996–97 to 2002–03 the FCO has sold seven overseas offices, 13 head of mission/post residences, one combined office/residence and 222 staff houses and flats, as follows:
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Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on maintaining embassies and consulates in (a) EU countries and (b) the USA in the last 12 months. [98127]
Mr. Rammell: In financial year 2001/2002 the cost of maintaining the FCO's accommodation in European Union countries and the USA was £4,107,918 and £1,850,847 respectively.
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