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Sudan

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UN's decision not to re-appoint Mr. Gerhart Baum as Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Sudan. [108755]

Mr. Rammell: We are actively working for agreement to continue the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Sudan during the current session of the Commission for Human Rights in Geneva. The UN will decide the appointment only after the mandate has been agreed.

We take a close interest and play an active role in the promotion of human rights in Sudan. This includes our strong support for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Khartoum, to which the UK is the main contributor of funding. As a member of the EU, the UK has co-sponsored with EU partners successive resolutions at the UN Commission on Human Rights and the UN General Assembly and we did so again at the Commission for Human Rights on 16 April.

Western Sahara

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Government of Morocco's recent statements on the proposals of Mr. James Baker on Western Sahara. [108753]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We understand that at this point, responses to the proposals of James Baker have been kept private. However, I welcome the views of King Mohammed VI of Morocco in his message (read by

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Driss Jettou, the Moroccan Prime Minister) of 14 March, to the 5th CEN-SAD summit (the Community of Sahel and Sahara states). This renewed the Kingdom of Morocco's readiness for dialogue and negotiation with a view to finding a political solution' to this dispute.

The United Kingdom supports fully the efforts of the UN Secretary General (UNSG) and his Personal Envoy, James Baker to find a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the Western Sahara dispute that provides for self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights abuses in Western Sahara. [108754]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: FCO officials and I call regularly upon the parties to the Western Sahara dispute to take action on human rights issues. In February this year, I called for the immediate release of the remaining 1,160 Moroccan prisoners of war held by the Polisario Front, some held for over 25 years and some are in poor physical and mental health. In April this year officials took action to bring to the attention of the Moroccan authorities concerns over the trial, sentencing and prison conditions of Ali Salem Tamek, a Saharawi activist. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, taking action with the appropriate authorities where necessary.

World Health Organisation

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he plans to have with fellow European Union Ministers on the request by the Government of Taiwan ROC to be granted observer status in the World Health Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [107949]

Mr. Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 26 March 2003, Official Report, column 260W.

FCO officials are in contact with their EU counterparts about the common policy towards Taiwan's relationship with the WHO.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Government of Zimbabwe regarding the detention of members of the Movement for Democratic Change; and if he will make a statement; [109168]

(2) what information he has collated on the number of Members of Parliament and other members of the Movement for Democratic Change currently detained by the police or other government security forces in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [109167]

Mr. Rammell: Since the nationwide stayaway on 18 and 19 March, over 600 opposition supporters have been arrested. Many have been beaten and tortured. Recent arrests include those of Gibson Sibanda, Parliamentary Leader of the MDC; Paul Themba Nyathi, the party's spokesman; Fidelis Mhashu, the Shadow Education Minister; Giles Mutsekwa, Shadow Defence Minister and numerous MDC MPs. The trial of

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MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai; Secretary General Welshman Ncube; and Agriculture Spokesman Renton Gasela also continues.

The EU has condemned the violence and sponsored a resolution on Zimbabwe at the UN Commission on Human Rights.

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has collated on state-sponsored torture in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [109169]

Mr. Rammell: We receive many credible reports from trustworthy sources, including Amnesty International, the Zimbabwean NGO Human Rights Forum, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and Physicians for Human Rights, testifying to the Government of Zimbabwe's use of torture. Evidence suggests that torture is often used with the tacit or explicit approval of the ruling party and agents of the state, including the police force, army and intelligence services.

We have condemned ZANU (PF) for its use of torture and have called on the Government of Zimbabwe to ratify the UN Convention on Torture.

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Cuba regarding the recent arrest of pro-democracy and human rights activists; and if he will make a statement. [109165]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for The Harlow (Mr. Rammell) summoned the Cuban Ambassador to register concern following the recent arrests of dissidents in Cuba. EU partners issued a Statement calling for immediate release of all the prisoners. We urge the Cuban Government to respect international human rights.

TRANSPORT

Accountancy Services

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in 2002–03. [109498]

Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Airport Noise

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been provided by Central Government funds to (a) all UK airports and (b) each UK airport for noise abatement measures in each of the last 10 years. [110412]

Mr. Jamieson: Nil. Each airport is responsible for funding its own noise abatement measures, including noise insulation schemes. This applies irrespective of whether the noise abatement measures are specified by the Secretary of State (i.e. at airports designated under section 80 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982) or determined locally.

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Concessionary Travel

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of pensioners use concessionary travel in Shrewsbury and Atcham; and if he will make a statement on the availability of concessionary travel for pensioners in Shrewsbury and Atcham. [109685]

Mr. Jamieson: The percentage of pensioners in Shrewsbury and Atcham who claimed concessionary travel in the financial year 2002–03 was 73 per cent.

From 1 June 2001 the Government have ensured that all pensioners have been entitled to a free bus pass allowing half-fare travel on local buses, as a minimum. Local authorities may also run more generous schemes if they wish. On 1 April 2003 local authority travel concessions were extended to men aged between 60 and 65.

Shrewsbury and Atcham Council's Concessionary Travel Scheme offers pensioners and disabled people a choice of:

(a) Borough Half Fare Bus Card (statutory minimum), which entitles the recipient to half fare travel on local bus services in Shrewsbury and Atcham; or


(b) Half Fare Countywide Bus Card for which the recipient pays £16 and is entitled to half fare travel on local bus services in Shropshire and to certain towns just outside the county; or


(c) Unlimited Travel Bus Card for which the recipient pays £120 and is entitled to free travel on local bus services in Shrewsbury and Atcham and half fare travel in the rest of Shropshire; or


(d) Travel Tokens to the value of £25; or


(e) Senior Railcard for which the recipient pays £5 and is entitled to one-third off most rail fares nationwide. This option was only introduced from 1 April 2003.

With all of the Bus Cards listed above there are no time restrictions placed on the use of the card.

Crabbe Yard, Wadborough

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department is taking to ensure that all heavy goods vehicles depositing rubble and other materials at Crabbe Yard, Wadborough, Worcestershire (a) comply with necessary regulations and (b) are properly licensed for the activity. [109855]

Mr. Jamieson: The goods vehicle operator licensing system is administered by statutorily independent Traffic Commissioners. Users of heavy goods vehicles carrying goods for hire or reward or in connection with their own trade or business normally require a licence for each traffic area in which they are based. A licence authorises the vehicles and each operating centre. It is an offence to use an unauthorised vehicle or operating centre.

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