House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 14 Apr 2003 (pt 13)

14 Apr 2003 : Column 521W—continued

Burma

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received that the regime in Burma is building a nuclear reactor; and if he will make a statement. [107923]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK understands that Burma is building a civil nuclear research reactor at Kalagok Kyun in Mon State. Burma has acceded to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nuclear weapon state and the required Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) entered into force in 1995. We understand that the IAEA is aware that Russia is currently helping Burma build these facilities.

Convention on the Future of Europe

Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Convention on the Future of Europe is due to complete its work. [107493]

Mr. MacShane: Following an exchange of views on progress of the discussions at the Convention on the Future of Europe, the Copenhagen European Council concluded that the Convention will present the result of its work in time for the European Council in June 2003.

Cricket (Zimbabwe)

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the English Cricket Board on plans by the English cricket team to tour Zimbabwe; when these discussions took place; who was present; what advice his Department gave to the ECB; what the Government's policy is on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [108701]

Mr. Straw: Foreign Office officials are in regular contact with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), but have not as yet discussed the England cricket team's tour of Zimbabwe in November 2004. But much could change in Zimbabwe between now and then. We stand ready to advise the ECB on safety and security issues relating to this tour nearer the time, taking account of all relevant factors, including the future political and humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

We made it clear ahead of the recent Cricket World Cup that we did not believe that the England team should play in Zimbabwe at that time. There has been no improvement on the ground in Zimbabwe to lead us to change this advice at the current time.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the US Administration and (b) the French Government on the conflict in the

14 Apr 2003 : Column 522W

Democratic Republic of Congo; what information he has received on the reported massacre in the Ituri region of the country; what steps he plans to take to support the peace process; and if he will make a statement. [108702]

Mr. Straw: My Department has regular discussions with their US and French counterparts on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in order to co-ordinate our efforts to promote peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.

We were shocked to learn of the appalling massacre of civilians by militia in the DRC's Ituri Province last week. My noble Friend the Baroness Amos, issued a statement on 7 April strongly condemning this tragedy and has placed a copy in the Library of the House.

These killings, as with earlier militia attacks, underline the need to stop this senseless cycle of violence in the region. We call on all parties to stop fighting and join the political process, particularly now that a Transitional Government has just been agreed for the DRC covering the whole country.

The UK will play its part in supporting the peace process both as an active member of the UN Security Council and the EU, and as a member of the International Support Committee which is tasked with supporting the transitional process in DRC.

Departmental Annual Report

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report of the Department will be published. [107873]

Mr. Straw: We are aiming to publish the FCO departmental report for 2002–03 on a date to be finalised between 28 April and 16 May 2003.

We will publish our departmental report within this window, and are aiming for publication on 12 May 2003.

EU Constitution

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the adoption of an EU constitution would first be the subject of a referendum in the UK. [107717]

Mr. MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 14 January 2003, Official Report, column 516W.

Exhibitions

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list events at which his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible have exhibited in each of the last three years, stating for each (a) the purpose of exhibiting, (b) the cost of exhibiting and (c) the number of staff attending for the exhibition. [107615]

Mr. MacShane: The FCO's attendance at exhibitions in the UK is mainly at careers fairs to increase diversity in recruitment and/or at other events to raise awareness of

14 Apr 2003 : Column 523W

its consular and other services. Details available for the last three financial years are given in the following table. The British Council also attended five exhibitions in this period to promote its Connect Youth International

14 Apr 2003 : Column 524W

programme (see table). Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. This is in line with exemption 9 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Event Date Staff attending Purpose of exhibiting Cost (£)

Exhibitions attended by the FCO—financial year 2000–01

Recruitment section

Data for FY 2000–01 available only at disproportionate cost in time available

Consular Directorate

Destinations 2001, London 1–4 February 2001 3 Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry 5,522.50

Holiday Show 2001, Birmingham 23–25 February 2002 3 Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry 2,146.72

Independent Travellers World Show, Leeds 3–4 March 2001 3 Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry 1,985.75

British Council

Directorate of Social Services Charity Fair 2001 2 Promotion of Connect Youth International programme 440.00

Total 10,094.97

Exhibitions attended by the FCO—financial year 2002–03

University Careers Fairs

Lambeth College 15 May 2002 2 To encourage applications which reflect UK's rich cultural diversity 0.00

Brunel 10 June 2002 2 386.25

South Bank 26 June 2002 2 0.00

Jet Alumni Association 20 September 2002 2 250.00

London Metropolitan 26 September 2002 1 376.00

SOAS 12 November 2002 2 329.00

Middlesex 28 February 2003 3 0.00

Central Lancs (canx) canx fee 0 90.00

Central Lancashire 29 May 2002 2 352.50

Southampton 12 June 2002 2 381.88

Cardiff, Wales 13 June 2002 2 298.13

Exeter 19 June 2002 2 299.00

Edinburgh 19 June 2002 2 346.63

Bath 24 June 2002 2 317.25

Sheffield 22 October 2002 2 934.13

Teeside 1 November 2002 2 75.00

De Montford Leicester 13 November 2002 2 129.25

Coventry 20 November 2002 2 15.00

Swansea 19 February 2003 2 0.00

Umist 12 March 2003 2 0.00

Aberystwyth 19 March 2003 2 293.75

Regional fairs

Windsor Fellowship 26 April 2002 2 0.00

B'ham Diversity Fair 1–2 May 2002 3 1,756.63

Grades Diversity (UCL) 30 May 2002 2 1,169.13

Yorkshire Careers Fair 18 June 2002 2 934.13

London Grad Fair 26–27 June 2002 ⁽¹⁰⁾14 5,625.90

Glasgow 1–2 July 2002 3 2,359.99

Jobscene Belfast 27–28 September 2002 2 2,461.63

Jobscene Birmingham 10–11 October 2002 3 2,408.75

Egrex-London 16–18 October 2002 ⁽¹⁰⁾5 3,454.50

Jobscene Olympia 26–27January 2003 TBC 2,402.88

Grades (Warwick) 7 March 2003 3 1,700.81

Consular Directorate

London Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 4 July 2002 3 Outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender travellers 117.50

Holiday and Travel Show, Manchester 10–12 January 2003 3 Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry 5,355.65

Adventure Travel Show, London 10–12 January 2003 3 Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry 2,350.00

Destinations 2003 30 January–2 February 2003 3 Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry 9,533.95

British Council

Directorate of Social Services Charity Fair 2 Promotion of Connect Youth International programme 1,410.00

Association of Principal Youth and Community Officers 2 Promotion of Connect Youth International programme 375.00

Total 48,290.22

Exhibitions attended by the FCO—financial year 2001–02

Recruitment Section

University Careers Fairs

Kensington Town Hall 28–29 August 2001 FCOServicesDepartment To encourage applications which reflect UK's rich cultural diversity 0.00

Surrey 4 October 2001 2 111.63

Queen Mary & Westfield 16 October 2001 2 294.00

Essex 29 October 2001 2 85.90

SOAS 13 November 2001 2 332.00

Middlesex 27 February 2002 2 0.00

Creating Diversity 31 July/1 August 8 7,000.00

Aberdeen 16 May 2001 2 1,548.50

Central Lancashire 06 June 2001 2 293.75

Reading 21 June 2001 2 455.50

Exeter 20 June 2001 2 931.00

Agcas Biennial 4–7 September01 1 500.00

Ethnic Media Group Fair 12–13 September 2001 ⁽¹⁰⁾20 1,462.50

Methodist College, Belfast 14–15 September 2001 2 1,550.00

Jet Alumni Fair 21 September 2001 3 200.00

Swaminarayan Hindu Mission 23 September 2001 2 500.00

Derby 18 October 2001 2 50.00

Keele 6 November 2001 2 203.80

Edinburgh 8 November 2001 2 1,443.00

Dundee & Abertay 14 November 2001 2 962.44

D Montford Leicester 14 November 2001 2 347.30

Cambridge 14 February 2002 1 0.00

UMIST, Manchester 13 March 2002 2 0.00

Lampeter 19 March 2002 2 0.00

Aberystwyth 20 March 2002 2 235.00

Regional Fairs

London Graduate Fair 27–28 June 2001 ⁽¹⁰⁾10 4,708.00

Yorkshire Graduate Fair 19 June 2001 2 662.00

Scottish Graduate Fair 2–3 July 2001 3 5,300.00

Birmingham Graduate Fair 6–7 November 2001 2 4,527.63

Job Scene-Olympia 27–28 January 2002 ⁽¹⁰⁾12 4,506.00

Leicester Ethnic Fair 5 March 2002 2 258.50

FCO Services Section

EXPO 2001 October 2001 3 Raising FCO awareness and selling into wider markets 500.00

Excel Computer Show October 2001 2 Selling into wider markets 5,000.00

Various Recruitment Shows September 2001–January 2003 ⁽¹¹⁾13 Recruitment 1,850.00

Consular Directorate

Holiday & Travel Show, Glasgow 18–20 January 2002 3 Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry 5,211.36

Destinations 2002 31 January–3 February 2002 3 Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry 8,605.41

Holiday Show 2002, Birmingham 22–24 February 2002 3 Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry 2,146.72

Independent Travellers World Show 22–24 February 2002 3 Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry 0.00

Adventure Travel Show 11–13 January 2002 3 Part of mini campaign targetting backpackers ⁽¹²⁾—

British Council

Directorate of Social Services Charity Fair 2001 2 Promotion of Connect Youth International programme 840.00

Multilingual Conference in Sheffield 2 Promotion of Connect Youth International programme 60.00

Total 62,681.94

Event	Date	Staff attending	Purpose of exhibiting	Cost (£)
	Exhibitions attended by the FCO—financial year 2000–01
Recruitment section
	Data for FY 2000–01 available only at disproportionate cost in time available
Consular Directorate
Destinations 2001, London	1–4 February 2001	3	Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry	5,522.50
Holiday Show 2001, Birmingham	23–25 February 2002	3	Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry	2,146.72
Independent Travellers World Show, Leeds	3–4 March 2001	3	Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry	1,985.75
British Council
Directorate of Social Services Charity Fair 2001		2	Promotion of Connect Youth International programme	440.00
Total				10,094.97

	Exhibitions attended by the FCO—financial year 2002–03
University Careers Fairs
Lambeth College	15 May 2002	2	To encourage applications which reflect UK's rich cultural diversity	0.00
Brunel	10 June 2002	2		386.25
South Bank	26 June 2002	2		0.00
Jet Alumni Association	20 September 2002	2		250.00
London Metropolitan	26 September 2002	1		376.00
SOAS	12 November 2002	2		329.00
Middlesex	28 February 2003	3		0.00
Central Lancs (canx)	canx fee	0		90.00
Central Lancashire	29 May 2002	2		352.50
Southampton	12 June 2002	2		381.88
Cardiff, Wales	13 June 2002	2		298.13
Exeter	19 June 2002	2		299.00
Edinburgh	19 June 2002	2		346.63
Bath	24 June 2002	2		317.25
Sheffield	22 October 2002	2		934.13
Teeside	1 November 2002	2		75.00
De Montford Leicester	13 November 2002	2		129.25
Coventry	20 November 2002	2		15.00
Swansea	19 February 2003	2		0.00
Umist	12 March 2003	2		0.00
Aberystwyth	19 March 2003	2		293.75
Regional fairs
Windsor Fellowship	26 April 2002	2		0.00
B'ham Diversity Fair	1–2 May 2002	3		1,756.63
Grades Diversity (UCL)	30 May 2002	2		1,169.13
Yorkshire Careers Fair	18 June 2002	2		934.13
London Grad Fair	26–27 June 2002	⁽¹⁰⁾14		5,625.90
Glasgow	1–2 July 2002	3		2,359.99
Jobscene Belfast	27–28 September 2002	2		2,461.63
Jobscene Birmingham	10–11 October 2002	3		2,408.75
Egrex-London	16–18 October 2002	⁽¹⁰⁾5		3,454.50
Jobscene Olympia	26–27January 2003	TBC		2,402.88
Grades (Warwick)	7 March 2003	3		1,700.81
Consular Directorate
London Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras	4 July 2002	3	Outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender travellers	117.50
Holiday and Travel Show, Manchester	10–12 January 2003	3	Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry	5,355.65
Adventure Travel Show, London	10–12 January 2003	3	Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry	2,350.00
Destinations 2003	30 January–2 February 2003	3	Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry	9,533.95
British Council
Directorate of Social Services Charity Fair		2	Promotion of Connect Youth International programme	1,410.00
Association of Principal Youth and Community Officers		2	Promotion of Connect Youth International programme	375.00
Total				48,290.22

	Exhibitions attended by the FCO—financial year 2001–02
Recruitment Section
University Careers Fairs
Kensington Town Hall	28–29 August 2001	FCOServicesDepartment	To encourage applications which reflect UK's rich cultural diversity	0.00
Surrey	4 October 2001	2		111.63
Queen Mary & Westfield	16 October 2001	2		294.00
Essex	29 October 2001	2		85.90
SOAS	13 November 2001	2		332.00
Middlesex	27 February 2002	2		0.00
Creating Diversity	31 July/1 August	8		7,000.00
Aberdeen	16 May 2001	2		1,548.50
Central Lancashire	06 June 2001	2		293.75
Reading	21 June 2001	2		455.50
Exeter	20 June 2001	2		931.00
Agcas Biennial	4–7 September01	1		500.00
Ethnic Media Group Fair	12–13 September 2001	⁽¹⁰⁾20		1,462.50
Methodist College, Belfast	14–15 September 2001	2		1,550.00
Jet Alumni Fair	21 September 2001	3		200.00
Swaminarayan Hindu Mission	23 September 2001	2		500.00
Derby	18 October 2001	2		50.00
Keele	6 November 2001	2		203.80
Edinburgh	8 November 2001	2		1,443.00
Dundee & Abertay	14 November 2001	2		962.44
D Montford Leicester	14 November 2001	2		347.30
Cambridge	14 February 2002	1		0.00
UMIST, Manchester	13 March 2002	2		0.00
Lampeter	19 March 2002	2		0.00
Aberystwyth	20 March 2002	2		235.00
Regional Fairs
London Graduate Fair	27–28 June 2001	⁽¹⁰⁾10		4,708.00
Yorkshire Graduate Fair	19 June 2001	2		662.00
Scottish Graduate Fair	2–3 July 2001	3		5,300.00
Birmingham Graduate Fair	6–7 November 2001	2		4,527.63
Job Scene-Olympia	27–28 January 2002	⁽¹⁰⁾12		4,506.00
Leicester Ethnic Fair	5 March 2002	2		258.50
FCO Services Section
EXPO 2001	October 2001	3	Raising FCO awareness and selling into wider markets	500.00
Excel Computer Show	October 2001	2	Selling into wider markets	5,000.00
Various Recruitment Shows	September 2001–January 2003	⁽¹¹⁾13	Recruitment	1,850.00
Consular Directorate
Holiday & Travel Show, Glasgow	18–20 January 2002	3	Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry	5,211.36
Destinations 2002	31 January–3 February 2002	3	Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry	8,605.41
Holiday Show 2002, Birmingham	22–24 February 2002	3	Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry	2,146.72
Independent Travellers World Show	22–24 February 2002	3	Disseminating travel advice to public & networking with travel industry	0.00
Adventure Travel Show	11–13 January 2002	3	Part of mini campaign targetting backpackers	⁽¹²⁾—
British Council
Directorate of Social Services Charity Fair 2001		2	Promotion of Connect Youth International programme	840.00
Multilingual Conference in Sheffield		2	Promotion of Connect Youth International programme	60.00
Total				62,681.94

⁽¹⁰⁾ On shifts

⁽¹¹⁾ Total across all events

⁽¹²⁾ Cost cannot be broken down from campaign consultants fee

14 Apr 2003 : Column 525W

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