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6 May 2003 : Column 557W—continued

Working Patterns

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he intends to take to enable people to work longer if they choose. [108680]

Malcolm Wicks: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Central Fife (Mr. MacDougall), on 17 March 2003, Official Report, volume 401, column 599–600W.

PRIME MINISTER

Energy Policy

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement, in relation to his Department and each agency and non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible, on (a) the amount of energy consumed, (b) spending on (i) energy and (ii) energy efficiency measures, (c) the amount saved through energy efficiency measures and (d) energy policy in each of the last five years. [108854]

The Prime Minister: Information on Downing Street is not available in this format as it forms part of the Cabinet Office estate. I have therefore asked the Minister for the Cabinet Office to reply and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Iraq

Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what contingency preparations he authorised civil servants to make for his resignation before the parliamentary vote on war with Iraq. [111216]

The Prime Minister: None.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he received, from whom and when, between 1 January and 20 April, regarding the threat of looting of antiquities in Iraq; what his response was; and if he will make a statement. [110615]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 1 May 2003]: We continue to receive a large number of representations on a wide range of issues concerning Iraq. Some of these have been about looting. The Coalition consulted widely before the commencement of the military campaign on the risks to ancient historical and archaeological sites. We have stressed our commitment to protecting such sites. We want to protect resources for all Iraqis and will take what measures are necessary to do this.

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Experts from the MacDonald Institute of Archaeology, the British Museum and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be going to Iraq shortly to assist their Iraqi colleagues.

KOMOS

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his reply to the letter from KOMOS of 15 April. [110622]

The Prime Minister: As far as I am aware, my office has not yet received a letter from KOMOS.

Meetings

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet (a) President George W. Bush, (b) US Secretary of State Colin Powell and (c) Prime Minister John Howard. [110695]

The Prime Minister: I have no current plans to meet President Bush or Secretary of State Colin Powell before their visit to Europe in late May. I hope to meet Prime Minister Howard tomorrow.

Ministerial Responsibility

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Prime Minister who the Government Minister responsible for co-ordination against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attack is. [110800]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 1 May 2003]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave him in the House on 28 April 2003, Official Report, column 10.

Official Visits

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions since 1 March 2003 on which public expenditure has been incurred on official visits by Mrs. Blair. [111131]

The Prime Minister: Since 1 March 2003, Mrs. Blair has accompanied me on a visit to Aldershot Garrison and RAF Lyneham on 3 April 2003. No additional expense was incurred on this visit.

Pensions Minister

Mr. Webb: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to appoint a Minister of State for Pensions. [110413]

The Prime Minister: An announcement will be made at the appropriate time.

Security (Northern Ireland)

David Burnside: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with Sinn Fein on the future use of the home battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment in security duties in Northern Ireland. [110788]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 1 May 2003]: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings under exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

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Special Advisers

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz), 31 March 2003, Official Report, column 526W, on special advisers, for what reason Lord Birt is not listed. [111153]

The Prime Minister: Lord Birt is an unpaid adviser not a special adviser.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Zimbabwe

10. Mr. Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Zimbabwe. [111603]

Mr. Rammell: We are concerned at the deepening crisis in Zimbabwe and ZANU(PF)'s failure to address the situation. The economy is rapidly deteriorating. Over 7 million people remain dependent on food aid. 159 people were tortured by the security authorities in March alone. We call on the Government of Zimbabwe to end violence and begin a dialogue with the opposition and civil society, as a first step towards restoring good governance, democratic accountability and economic prosperity for the people of Zimbabwe.

Middle East

15. Mr. Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's attempts to secure a middle east peace settlement. [111608]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We continue to support Quartet efforts to bring about the resumption of a meaningful peace process. The Quartet road map represents the best chance for peace in Israel and Palestine, and we expect all parties to respond positively and start implementing it without delay. The UK will continue to do all it can to help.

16. Helen Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the role of the UN in building international recognition for political developments in the middle east. [111609]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: As a member of the Quartet, the UN has a central role in encouraging and supporting developments in the Middle East Peace Process. On 30 April, the Quartet presented to Prime Ministers Sharon and Abbas its road map to a two-state solution. The UN, along with other Quartet members, will verify the parties' implementation of the roadmap. United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242, 338 and 1397 remain the internationally agreed basis for a settlement.

19. Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US Administration on progress towards a two state solution for the Israeli and Palestinian people. [111612]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, FCO officials and I are in constant touch with US colleagues on Israel/

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Palestine. The UK Government believe that a secure and stable two-state solution, as called for in President Bush's speech of 24 June 2002 and reached through early implementation of the Quartet road map, is the only credible way to deliver to both Israelis and Palestinians the peaceful future they both need.

Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 14 April 2003, Official Report, column 529W, on the Middle East, whether the Government regard the B'Tselem list as authoritative. [110410]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: No such list can be completely authoritative. It is difficult to get accurate details of an incident, and the Israeli Government does not always confirm its involvement in targeted killings. However, B'Tselem is a reputable human rights organisation and we believe the list under question is useful if only as a guide.

Iraq

17. Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of the United States of America on safeguarding Iraq's archaeological heritage in the course of war. [111610]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: This is one of the many issues on Iraq that I have discussed with the US Government.

Coalition commanders took great pains in the planning and conduct of the campaign in Iraq to protect Iraq's archaeological and cultural and religious heritage.

18. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage reform of the Iraqi criminal justice system in line with international human rights standards. [111611]

20. Hywel Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage reform of the Iraqi criminal justice system in line with international human rights standards. [111618]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Security and stability in Iraq continue to be the priority, to provide the platform to deliver humanitarian relief. An ORHA team is currently in Iraq to review options for a new judicial system. The aim must be to help raise the standards of justice in Iraq to meet international standards of human rights. It will of course be for a properly constituted Iraqi authority to undertake substantive reform of the Iraqi justice system.

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the involvement of Mr. Ahmed Chalabi in the post-war government in Iraq. [108273]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Chalabi is a prominent opposition figure. It is therefore only appropriate that the group he represents should be able to play a role in Iraq's future. But that role is for the people of Iraq to determine.

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Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what timetable he proposes for the establishment of a new government in Iraq; and when he expects elections will take place for a new government. [110872]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The role of the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) is helping to facilitate the creation of a democratic process in Iraq. A series of meetings (which began in Nasiriyah and Baghdad) will draw together Iraqi consensus from a broad range of opinion. The aim is to help establish an Iraqi Interim Authority in four weeks time. It is too early to predict when elections can be held and Iraqi self-governance attained.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what oil revenues are being held by the United Nations in a trust for the people of Iraq. [110873]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: There is currently no UN trust fund holding oil revenues for the people of Iraq. However, under the Oil For Food programme all revenues from Iraqi oil exports are held in UN escrow accounts. 72 per cent. of these revenues fund humanitarian supplies to Iraq, 25 per cent. go into a fund to pay compensation to victims of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and 3 per cent. pay for operating costs.

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place about debt-restructuring in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [110979]

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.

Finance Ministers at the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meeting asked the Paris Club of official creditors to engage on Iraq's debt. This engagement has commenced with Paris Club creditors carrying out a data call to provide a comprehensive assessment of Iraq's indebtedness to them.

The UK Government have made it clear that they are seeking a fair and sustainable solution to Iraq's debt problems.

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