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West Coast Main Line (ATP)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has that trains on the upgraded West Coast mainline will operate with automatic train protection systems. [104989]

Mr. Jamieson: We are committed to introducing the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS). However, at present, ERTMS is insufficiently developed or proven for use on a high capacity, mixed use railway such as the West Coast main line. The modernisation of the line is therefore being taken forward with protection provided by the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS), as originally planned and now installed, with additional protection at higher speed junctions.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Iraq

14. Mr. Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the situation in Iraq. [104472]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier in the House today by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Liz Blackman).

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20. Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what commitment he will make to compliance with UN Resolution 1325 in any post-conflict reconstruction in Iraq. [104478]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We are fully committed to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and are working on its implementation with the UN Secretariat, agencies and NGOs. We have mainstreamed gender into our peace-keeping and reconstruction activities, for instance in Afghanistan and Sierra Leone and expect to do the same in Iraq.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on when the Government of Iraq first used chemical weapons against its own people. [100072]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Iraq used chemical weapons against its own people in the attack on Halabja in 1988. There are allegations that Iraq has used chemical weapons on other occasions. Given the circumstances in Iraq, Halabja is the only attack on Iraqi civilians which we have been able to verify beyond any doubt.

Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the inspections in Iraq carried out prior to 1998 the Iraqi Government was recorded by the UN as non-cooperative, broken down by (a) minor delays and (b) actual inspection refusals. [103972]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: UNSCOM did not routinely report all instances of Iraqi non-cooperation. Only the more serious cases were formally reported. They did, however, regularly report that they were not receiving full cooperation from Iraq. Their regular reports to the UN Security Council and, more particularly, the final report produced by Richard Butler in March 1999, which is available in the House of Commons Library, show a systematic effort to frustrate inspectors throughout the 1990s.

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received a copy of the Iraqi declaration to the United Nations of 7 December 2002; if he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [104054]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: A copy of the declaration was provided to us by the United Nations a few days after it was produced by the Government of Iraq. It was subsequently studied in detail by officials.

I am withholding the information requested under exemption 1C of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (information received in confidence from Foreign Governments, Foreign Courts or International Organisations).

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the governments of (a) Commonwealth countries and (b) British Overseas Territories regarding the crisis in Iraq. [104243]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We regularly have discussions with Commonwealth Governments and those of the British Overseas Territories about a wide range of foreign policy issues, including the crisis in Iraq.

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Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 725W, on Iraq, what action the Government have taken since UN Resolution 57/232 was passed to deploy human rights monitors in Iraq. [105031]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Saddam Hussein's regime refused to allow human rights monitors to be stationed in Iraq, despite repeated urging by the international community. For the 10 years prior to February 2002, it would not even allow into Iraq the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights.

Middle East

15. Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's activities in seeking a Middle East peace settlement. [104473]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: As I have already indicated; our aim is for the Middle East Peace Process to create two states, Israel and Palestine, side by side, both at peace.

17. James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to promote dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. [104475]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We held a conference in London on 14 January to encourage Palestinian reform, which the Israelis say is necessary for progress. We are also closely engaged with both parties in encouraging the peace process.

18. Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the first meeting on the road map for Palestine and Israel will take place. [104476]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Quartet will present the roadmap, as agreed by them on 20 December 2002, to both parties once Abu Mazen has been confirmed as Palestinian Prime Minister. We expect this to happen shortly. The Quartet will then discuss implementation of the road map with the parties. We look to both of them to implement the steps it sets out with speed, vigour and determination. Direct meetings between the parties, for example on security issues, are part of this process.

19. Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed road map for resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict. [104477]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Quartet road map is an internationally agreed series of steps which lead to a comprehensive settlement of the Arab/Israeli dispute in 2005, as envisaged by President Bush in his 14 June speech last year. There is no other way forward. We support the efforts of the Quartet partners to get the road map published and implemented as soon as possible and call on all the parties concerned to co-operate fully with them to these ends.

23. Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process. [104482]

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Mr. Mike O'Brien : A peace process can best be restarted through early publication and implementation of the Quartet road map. We are doing all we can to secure this.

EU Asylum and Immigration Policy

16. Ms Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the EU on strengthening cooperation on asylum and immigration policy in Europe. [104474]

Mr. Rammell: In Geneva last week I held discussions on the UK's ideas for improving asylum policy in Europe with my Spanish and Finish counterparts and with Ruud Lubbers, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister proposed a UK initiative on asylum to the European Council on 21 March. The initiative aims at better global management and protection of asylum seekers through improved regional management of migration flows, and the creation of processing centres on transit routes to Europe. The council invited the commission to explore the UK's ideas further and report back to the Thessaloniki European Council in June.

The Foreign Office is working very closely with the Home Office, as the lead Department, on this agenda. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and Home Office Ministers have regular meetings with their opposite numbers. EU Interior Ministers will discuss the UK's ideas at the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council on 28–29 March.

UK-Turkish Relations

21. Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral UK diplomatic relations with Turkey. [104480]

Mr. MacShane: Bilateral UK diplomatic relations with Turkey are strong. Turkey is important to us: as a NATO ally, an EU candidate, a developing market economy and an influential regional power. Contacts at both ministerial and official level are frequent and cover a wide range of issues of international and domestic importance.

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