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Israel

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel concerning arbitrary detention of young Palestinians. [121677]

Mr. Rammell: We have recently raised our concerns about the arbitrary detention of Palestinian minors at the highest levels of the Israeli Government. Israel, like all states, has the right to defend itself against terrorism, but it must act in accordance with international law. Our embassy in Tel Aviv monitor this issue closely, and will continue to do so.

We remain committed to Quartet-led efforts to ensure implementation of the roadmap leading to the objectives of a two-state solution which will allow Israel and Palestine to live side by side in security and peace.

Kenya

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department is giving to the Kenyan Government to counter the terrorist threat in Kenya. [122050]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 30 June 2003]: We are giving the Kenyan Government substantial assistance to help them to counter the terrorist threat. This includes advice and training to improve security at airports, hotels and tourist destinations. We are also working with them to develop a long-term, sustainable strategy. My noble

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Friend, Baroness Symons discussed this with the Kenyan Minister of Internal Security, Chris Murungaru, when he visited London on 27 June and I discussed it with the Kenyan Vice President on 30 June. Contacts will continue.

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will review his Department's travel advice to Kenya. [122051]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 30 June 2003]: We keep travel advice under careful review. As the hon. Member may be aware, the travel advice for Kenya was changed on 26 June and the warning against non-essential travel was removed. The new advice makes clear that there is a high threat from terrorism in Kenya and British nationals should remain vigilant at all times.

Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British High Commission in Nairobi has taken action regarding reported killings of Sudanese refugees in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya. [122705]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer of 30 June 2003]: The British High Commission in Nairobi is aware of ethnic clashes in the area of the Kakuma refugee camp. We understand that violence broke out between Toposa (Sudanese) refugees and local Turkana (Kenyan) people after the alleged theft of cattle stock by the Toposa. The situation is now stable, although tensions remain. The High Commission is monitoring the situation.

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security risk to UK subjects (a) resident in Kenya and (b) travelling to Kenya. [121165]

Mr. Mullin: As the current Travel Advice for Kenya makes clear, there is a high threat from global terrorism in Kenya. However, the warning against non-essential travel has now been removed although UK nationals, whether residents or visitors, should remain vigilant in public places and tourist sites.

Krishna Maharaj

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Krishna Maharaj, a UK national, was arrested in Florida; and when the Consular service was officially informed of his arrest by (a) the Federal Authorities, (b) the State and (c) the local authorities. [122134]

Mr. Mullin: Mr Krishna Maharaj was arrested on 16 October 1986 in Miami, Florida. Our consular officials in the USA were never officially informed of Krishna Maharaj's arrest by any Federal, State or local authorities.

Our consular staff in Atlanta first became aware of Mr. Maharaj's detention on 27 October 1988 when they were told of his presence on death row in the Florida State Prison by Professor Radelet, a death penalty researcher from the University of Florida. At the same time, Mr. Maharaj wrote to our embassy in Washington to alert them to his situation.

Our embassy in Washington wrote to the State Department on 19 January 1989 to formally complain that the Florida authorities did not notify the Consulate

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General of Mr. Maharaj's arrest as they should have done under the bilateral UK/US consular convention. The State Department sent an apology on 20 May 1989.

Moazzam Begg

Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what access by (a) the Red Cross and (b) British diplomats has been granted to Moazzam Begg who is detained in Guantanamo Bay; and with what result. [122306]

Mr. Mullin: Since his transfer to Guantanamo Bay in February 2003, Moazzam Begg has been seen once by British officials during their visit in April. The purpose of the visit was to check on his identity and welfare and to ask questions related to national security. Mr. Begg appeared to be in good health.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has access to all the detainees at Guantanamo Bay on request.

Occupied Territories

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European counterparts regarding the EU demand for reparations from Israel for damage done to projects and infrastructure paid for by the European Union. [121675]

Mr. Rammell: Action taken by Israel in self defence must be proportionate. Israel must avoid civilian casualties and avoid damaging civilian property and infrastructure.

Together with our EU partners we have raised our concerns about the damage to EU and other donor-funded projects in the West Bank and Gaza Strip caused by Israeli military actions and demanded that this practice stop. The EU reserves the right to demand compensation. The European Commission continues to monitor and cost this damage.

Pakistan

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 10 June 2003, Official Report, column 803W, on Pakistan, how many people from Pakistan have applied for a visit visa in a third country since the visa section in Islamabad was unable to accept applications; how many were successful; how many people from Pakistan have sought prior agreement for a visit visa from a mission in a third country; by what means they may seek such prior agreement; and if he will make a statement. [121599]

Mr. Mullin: We do not hold statistics on the number of Pakistani nationals who have applied for visit visas in third countries since the restricted visa service in Islamabad began. Gathering this information would incur disproportionate costs.

Visitor visas can be applied for at any of our 164 visa issuing posts. However, applicants are advised to contact the embassy or High Commission at which they wish to apply before travelling to ensure that their application can be accepted.

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Applicants can contact any visa issuing post by fax, telephone or e-mail. Contact details can be found on the UKvisas website at www.ukvisas.gov.uk

Russia

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 9W, on Ingushetia, when he expects to receive the report from the Ingush government commission. [122335]

Mr. Rammell: We do not know when the Ingush government commission will publish its report. However, we hope that the commission will complete its work without delay.

Travel Bans

Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions UK nationals (a) resident and (b) travelling abroad have been subject to a travel ban by an overseas government in each of the last five years. [122746]

Mr. Mullin: We do not record statistics on the point raised by the hon. Member. It would incur disproportionate cost to provide the information requested.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service (Dropped Prosecutions)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Solicitor General how many prosecutions have been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service on the grounds that it was not in the public interest to prosecute by reason of old age in the last five years. [122128]

The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) centrally held case records do not include information on the reasons underlying discontinuance. It is therefore not possible to say how many prosecutions the CPS have dropped on the grounds it was not in the public interest to prosecute by reason of old age. This information is held on individual case files, and could be obtained only, at disproportionate cost, by examining each relevant file in every CPS office across the country.

The only information currently available comes from a survey of the reasons for discontinuance undertaken in six CPS branches during the period October to December 1998. This showed that 2.7 per cent. of all discontinuances were attributable to the age or ill health of the defendant. Obviously however this information is considerably out of date and came from a limited sample.

The Compass case management system, which is to be implemented throughout the CPS by the end of 2003 will enable a full analysis of the reasons for discontinuance including a record of cases discontinued because the defendant was elderly.

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