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24 Mar 2003 : Column 69W—continued
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Unemployment
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many citizens of the European Union were out of work on average last year. [101605]
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Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 7 March 2003]: I have been asked to reply.
At the end of 2002, the number of unemployed people in the European Union, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition, was 13.8 million. Around 77 million working-age people were estimated to be 'inactive' in the EU labour market. Excluding the 15 to 19-year-old age group, many of whom are in education or training, the number of Inactive' working-age people was 53 million.
Biological Research Centres
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many applicants at biological research centres in (a) postgraduate institutes and (b) commercial laboratories and research facilities have been vetted under the voluntary security scheme and any other scheme in (i) the past five years and (ii) the past two years; how many were refused; and if he will make a statement; [85024]
- (2) which UK postgraduate institutions whose work includes biological research comply with the voluntary arrangements for security vetting of applications by scientists seeking work and studies in such institutions; what percentage of them this represents; and which do not; [85023]
(3) if the voluntary arrangements for security vetting applications by scientists seeking work and studies in the field of biological research in postgraduate institutions apply equally to (a) NHS facilities and (b) all categories of scientific, medical, paramedical and ancillary staff; [85022]
(4) what the countries of origin were of scientists who had their applications for work or study in biological research rejected on grounds of security in the past five years. [85025]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I will write to my hon. Friend separately on this issue.
British Detainees (Guantanamo Bay)
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are in place for (a) consular and (b) Red Cross visits to British detainees held on Guantanamo Bay. [102679]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: As Guantanamo Bay is outside a recognised consular district, the US does not consider that we are entitled to formal consular access there. However, British officials have visited on four occasions to check on the welfare of the British nationals and ask questions relating to National Security. We were the first country to visit its nationals.
We understand that the International Committee of the Red Cross no longer maintain a permanent presence at Guantanamo Bay, however they visit there approximately every six months for an extended period of up to three months the committee has confidential access to the detainees there. We understand that it can raise issues of concern, if necessary, with the camp authorities.
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Consul General (Dubai)
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the Consul General in Dubai was replaced in November 1999; and what involvement his successor has had in making representations on behalf of George Atkinson. [99939]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: It is not our practice to divulge reasons for senior staff movements. His successor has been involved in George Atkinson's case from his arrival. Consular staff in Dubai and London are continuing to offer George Atkinson all the consular assistance they properly can.
Cyprus
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion she proposes to have with Mr. Denktash of Northern Cyprus on his views as to restarting discussions towards future negotiations on Cyprus. [103799]
Departmental Catering Services
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by the Department in 2002. [104264]
Mr. Rammell: In house catering services are provided by an external contractor. Staff pay for their own refreshments, although the FCO provides a subsidy to the contractor. The cost to the FCO for the provision of the subsidy in 2002 was £173,958.39 + VAT.
The information requested in part (b) of the question is not centrally maintained and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Iraq
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have agreed protocols for assistance by UK forces of UN agencies in the co-ordination of new relief efforts in the Gulf. [103946]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: During the period of military conflict it is unlikely that conditions will allow UN agencies to operate. We hope that as soon as the security environment permits UN agencies will commence work in Iraq.
Our forces are experienced in operating with UN agencies and will seek to establish close and effective contact with any UN agencies they may be in contact with.
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the steps taken to authenticate the documentation passed to the UN weapons inspectors referred to by Dr. M. El Baradei at the UN Security Council on 7 March 2003, claiming that Iraq had attempted to buy uranium from Niger and elsewhere. [103807]
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Mr. Mike O'Brien: We understand that the IAEA acquired documents—some of which were forgeries. I am told these were not from UK sources. We can remain confident the statement in the Government's Dossier on Iraqi WMD that Iraq sought the supply of significant uranium from Africa.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of Shia fighters from Iran invading Iraq on the military situation on the border between Iraq and Iran. [104608]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We continually assess all aspects of the military situation in Iraq. In this context, we welcome Iranian Government assurances that, in accordance with Iran's neutrality, it is not their intention that their troops will enter Iraq. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep in contact with the Iranians.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Iran on the situation in Iraq. [104609]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We maintain regular contact with the Iranian authorities over the situation in Iraq, both at ministerial level and through our respective embassies. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary most recently discussed the situation with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Dr. Khamal Kharrazi, by telephone on 20 March.
Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he next plans to discuss with the (a) Indonesian and (b) Australian Governments the deaths of Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters; [103923]
- (2) whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Indonesian and East Timor papers from 1975–76 released in late 2002 represent all the Indonesian and East Timor papers held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; [103966]
(3) how many diplomatic written communications were sent or transmitted (a) by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the British Embassy in Jakarta and (b) by the British embassy in Jakarta to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in (i) 1975 and (ii) 1976 concerning Indonesia and East Timor; [103965]
(4) what recent discussions he has had with UN officials concerning the UN investigation into the deaths of Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters; [103962]
(5) if he will make a statement on the (a) Foreign and Commonwealth Office telegram of 28 October 1975 and (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Office telegram number 394 of 24 October 1975 sent from the British embassy in Jakarta to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the deaths of Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters; [103964]
(6) when the UK Government first made representations to the Indonesian Government about the deaths of Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters. [103963]
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Mr. Mike O'Brien: I have no plans at present to discuss the deaths of Brian Peters and Malcolm Rennie with the Indonesian and Australian Governments.
The Permanent Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office discussed the UN investigation into the Balibo murders with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) to East Timor in November 2002. The SRSG explained that the investigation is unable to proceed until the Indonesian Government permits the interviewing of Indonesian witnesses. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 25 February 2003, Official Report, column 434W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd), for details of when we last raised this matter with the Indonesian authorities.
The FCO papers from 1975–76, released in November 2002, show that the Australian Government led on this issue as all five journalists were based in Australia and were working for Australian TV stations at the time of their deaths. The Australian Government raised the case with Indonesia but their attempts to obtain clarification had only limited success.
We are unable to provide details of when the British government first made representations to the Indonesian government about the deaths of Malcolm Rennie and Brian Peters. There would be disproportionate costs involved in researching the answer, as we would have to look through around 25 years' of files, and if, as is possible, the relevant papers were put on a consular file, these files would have been destroyed seven years after the last action they record.
The FCO has released all its files from 1975–76 relevant to the Balibo murders. No papers were withheld from the files that were released, but minor deletions were made to a few documents in accordance with Sections 3(4) and 5(1) of the Public Record Acts. The hon. Member may wish to consult the files at the Public Record Office. I do not wish at this stage to comment on the decisions made by the then Government on their handling of the Balibo murders.
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