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North Korea

21. Mr. Gary Streeter ): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to visit North Korea to discuss its nuclear weapon programme. [111613]

Mr. Rammell: There are no plans for a British Minister to visit North Korea.

India/Pakistan

22. Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with representatives of the Governments of Pakistan and India on monitoring by the United Nations of alleged border incursions and terrorism. [111615]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The specific issue of UN monitoring has not arisen in my right hon. Friend's recent contacts with Indian and Pakistani representatives. We believe that outstanding differences

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between those two countries, including Kashmir, will be found through a sustained political process between India and Pakistan. Our role, like that of those who wish them well, is that we stand ready, where we can, to help India and Pakistan start and pursue such a process. In this respect we welcome the encouraging news of a resumption of direct political contact between India and Pakistan, with the telephone call on 28 April between Pakistani Prime Minister Jamali and Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee. We are encouraging both sides to build on the important change in atmospherics which this represents.

United Nations

23. Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held on reform of UN processes for dealing with states where major human rights abuses occur. [111616]

Mr. Rammell: When I attended the UN Commission on Human Rights on 19 March, I discussed the need to enhance the effectiveness of the UN human rights mechanisms with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and representatives of a number of countries.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking alongside the United States, Germany and France to strengthen the United Nations, following the war with Iraq. [110870]

Mr. Rammell: We continue to work in the Security Council with the United States, France, Germany and other partners on a wide range of issues concerning international peace and security. We are discussing with them the UN's role in Iraq following the Coalition's military action.

We remain committed to enlarging the membership of the Security Council so that it better represents the modern world. We are also working on the wider UN reform agenda to ensure that the organisation can more effectively fulfil the tasks entrusted to it by the international community.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government has held with other members of the United Nations regarding the (a) future constitution and (b) structure of government for Iraq. [110871]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Questions regarding the future constitution and structure of government for Iraq is for the Iraqi people to decide. The Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance is helping the democratic process, through facilitating Iraqi consensus towards the creation of an Iraqi Interim Authority and eventual constitutional self-governance. Iraq's democratic future belongs to the Iraqis. We continue to be in contact with many countries including members of the UN Security Council about various aspects of our policy on Iraq.

Iran

24. Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Iran concerning the middle east peace process. [111617]

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Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the Middle East Peace Process in a telephone conversation with the Iranian Foreign Minister Mr. Kharrazi on 30 March. I also raised the issue with the Foreign Minister and Mohsen Mirdamadi, Chairman of the Majles Security and Foreign Policy Committee, when I visited Iran on 13 April. We urge the Iranians to cease support for rejectionist groups, in particular those responsible for suicide bombings in Israel, and to use their influence in support of a two-state solution. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the Middle East Peace Process in a telephone conversation with the Iranian Foreign Minister Mr Kharrazi on 30 March. I also raised the issue with the Foreign Minister and Mohsen Mirdamadi, Chairman of the Majles Security and Foreign Policy Committee, when I visited Iran on 13 April. We urge the Iranians to cease support for rejectionist groups, in particular those responsible for suicide bombings in Israel, and to use their influence in support of a two-state solution.

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UK-Iran relations. [110408]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Through critical engagement, the UK seeks to apply a twin-track approach in respect of Iran. We support reform in Iran while maintaining a robust dialogue on matters of concern such as human rights and weapons of mass destruction.

Age Discrimination

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to address the issue of age discrimination. [109447]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The issue of age discrimination is included in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Equal Opportunity polices and is taken into account when we monitor appraisals recruitment and promotions. We have given staff in bands A to D more flexibility over the age at which they retire, as recommended by the Cabinet Office Performance and Innovation Unit report, Winning the Generation Game (2000).

We are also examining our age profile, as part of our Human Resources Planning, to ensure it reflects the working population.

Anglo/US Discussions

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the US Administration regarding the future development of NATO. [110712]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions on the future development of NATO with the US and with other NATO Allies.

At the Prague Summit in November 2002, NATO Heads of State and Government took decisions to transform the Alliance to meet the new threats and security challenges of the 21st Century. To do this, NATO must develop new military capabilities to meet

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these new threats, streamline NATO command structures and have flexible Allied forces able to move quickly to wherever they are needed.

NATO decided on 16 April 2003 to offer increased support to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. NATO already plays a significant planning role in support of the existing ISAF force. This substantially enhanced support is a logical continuation of this process and evidence of NATO's continued adaptation to the evolving security agenda.

Foreign Ministers will be meeting in Madrid on 3–4 June for the NATO Spring Ministerials. This will be an important opportunity to review progress since Prague.

China, Israel and Pakistan

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government has for dealing with weapons of mass destruction, abuses of human rights and breach of United Nations resolutions in (a) China, (b) Israel and (c) Pakistan; and if he will make a statement. [110365]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government are regularly engaged in discussion with the Governments of China, Israel and Pakistan on a range of issues including WMD, Human Rights and obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions.

We continue to press all states to sign and ratify the various non-proliferation treaties, to accede to the core human rights conventions and to meet all obligations placed upon them by Resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Cuba

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on (a) the recent imprisonment of pro-democracy campaigners in Cuba, (b) the state of negotiations regarding Cuban membership on the Cotonou pact and (c) the recent comments of the European Commission Chargé d'affaires in Havana, that his office has responsibility for political relations with Cuba. [109886]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We strongly condemn the unjust arrests, summary trials and harsh sentencing of citizens peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression in Cuba, and urge the Government of Cuba to release them. EU partners will discuss Cuba's application to join Cotonou once the Commission's technical analysis is complete; recent events will undoubtedly have an impact on these discussions. We hope the newly appointed EU Commission Representative in Havana will play a full part in the EU's relationship with all sectors of Cuban society. Under the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, primary responsibility for the EU's political dialogue with third countries lies with member states.

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