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16 Jul 2003 : Column 398W—continued

Darmesh and Rashik Jamiet

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he received the papers relating to Darmesh (date of birth 27 February 1973) and Rashik (8 December 1977) Jamiet from Mumbai under Ref R/02/4938–40. [125517]

Mr. Mullin: I will write to my hon. Friend.

Departmental Staff

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for redeployment of members of his Department out of London and the south-east. [125391]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no immediate plans to redeploy any of our officers although, as with all Government Departments, we regularly examine the feasibility of locating staff where it makes most qualitative and financial sense.

European Constitution

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the inclusion of the EURATOM treaty in the draft EU constitution. [125829]

Mr. MacShane: The Convention on the Future of Europe has not proposed to include the EURATOM treaty in its draft Constitutional Treaty. It proposes to keep EURATOM as a separate, free-standing treaty, but to bring some of its provisions, such as those concerning its institutions, in line with changes to the EU proposed by the Constitutional Treaty. These proposals will be discussed in the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for the representation of British interests overseas of the appointment of an overall EU Foreign Minister. [126001]

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Mr. MacShane: The EU already has a High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and an External Relations Commissioner, who represent different aspects of EU business overseas. The draft Constitution proposes the creation of a European Foreign Minister who would combine these two roles on behalf of the European Union. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary would continue to represent British interests overseas.

Independent Monitor

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons have applied for the post of Independent Monitor. [125780]

Mr. Mullin: There were 82 applications for the post of Independent Monitor.

Organ Trafficking

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with European colleagues regarding organ trafficking (a) across Europe and (b) on a global level; and what proposals there are to tackle this practice. [121094]

Ms Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.

The Department of Health, together with colleagues in the Home Office, is negotiating a draft European Union Framework Decision on the prevention and control of trafficking in human organs and tissues.

In addition, the Department has been working with the 45 member states of the Council of Europe, which includes the member states of the European Union, to develop a recommendation on steps to be taken to minimise the risk of organ trafficking throughout the area.

The United Nations has also developed an Additional Protocol to the Convention against Transnational Organised Crime dealing with the trafficking of persons. It makes it a criminal offence to traffic a person for the purpose of removing an organ. The Protocol has yet to come into force.

Departmental Policies (Pendle)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policies (a) initiated and (b) managed by his Department since 2001 have had an impact on Pendle; and if he will make a statement. [124094]

Mr. MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is the United Kingdom Government Department responsible for foreign affairs. Its aim is to work for the United Kingdom's interests in a safe, just, and prosperous world. Achievement of these aims will benefit all areas of the United Kingdom, including Pendle.

More specifically, the FCO is responsible for relations with the EU. Under the 2000–06 European Structural Funding Programmes Pendle is currently receiving £2.6 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for its Objective 2, Priority 2 (People and Communities) Action Plan. This seeks to promote social

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and economic integration and improved living and working conditions for people in low-income, discriminated and other excluded groups.

Pendle is also receiving £0.9 million from the European Social Fund for training and employment projects complementary to projects supported under Priority 2, via direct bids to Government Office.

The wards of Boulsworth, Coates, Craven, Earby, Foulridge and Pendleside are in the Lancashire Leader Plus area which as a whole is receiving £2.2 million from the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund to provide a greater range of local services and employment opportunities within rural communities and to open up new market opportunities for rural goods.

Pendle is in the East Lancashire Objective 2, Priority 1 Action Plan area, which as a whole is allocated £20 millon ERDF to provide business support activity to improve competitiveness across the East Lancashire area.

Public Diplomacy Team

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the size is of his public diplomacy team. [125521]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: There are currently 25 employees working in the Public Diplomacy Policy Department.

In 2002 there were 144 UK based staff and 144.41 locally engaged staff who spend 50–100 per cent. of their time covering this function in our overseas Posts. The figures are not yet available for this year.

Zimbabwe (Elias Mudzuri)

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has made representations to the Government of Zimbabwe about the recent arrest of Elias Mudzuri; what further action his Department intends to take; and if he will make a statement. [126121]

Mr. Straw: The British High Commission in Harare have been in close touch with Mr. Mudzuri throughout this episode. He has not asked us to make representations on his behalf. We are well aware of the Government of Zimbabwe's persistent harassment of key opposition figures like Mr. Mudzuri. He briefed FCO officials, during a visit to the UK in June, on the considerable difficulties he faces. We underlined that we would continue to support all Zimbabweans working for a return to democracy and the rule of law. We will continue to monitor developments closely.

DEFENCE

Service Accommodation (Council Tax)

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure is in place to assist those service personnel who are paying both contributions in lieu of council tax and full council tax on a private residence, and require representations making to their local authority for a council tax reduction. [126058]

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Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence writes to the local authority in support of the representation.

Deepcut Barracks

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the extent of the supply and use of illicit drugs at Deepcut barracks over the last five years; how many personnel were tested; how many tests proved positive; what disciplinary action resulted; and if he will make a statement. [125559]

Mr. Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 July 2003, Official Report, column 1030W. Of the 24 individuals who tested positive (two tested twice on different occasions), one has been retained in Service, 14 have been administratively discharged for drug offences and nine administratively discharged for other reasons.

Defence Medical Services

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 14 April 2003, Official Report, column 567W, what the cost of the Defence Medical Services was in each year from 1995–96, in 2003–04 prices. [119196]

Mr. Caplin: Further to the answer of 14 April 2003, Official Report, column 567W, the cost of the Defence Medical Services (DMS) in each of the years from 1995–96 to 2002–03 at 2003–04 prices is as follows:

Cost of Defence Medical Services (DMS)£

	Cost of DMS at 2003–04 prices
1995–96	405.43
1996–97	305.58
1997–98	316.11
1998–99	328.61
1999–2000	353.21
2000–01	359.67
2001–02	368.23
2002–03	407.85

Note:

These figures were calculated using the GDP deflator published by HM Treasury.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the pay differential is between doctors serving in Band three in the NHS and doctors serving in Band three posts in the DMS; and if he will make a statement. [118192]

Mr. Caplin: It is difficult to make an accurate comparison between the pay of doctors in the Defence Medical Services (DMS) and doctors in the NHS serving in Band three posts as this would depend on a number of factors, such as their stage of training and their incremental level on the pay structure. Account would also need to be taken of the X-factor paid to DMS doctors, the non-contributory nature of the armed forces pension scheme and the fact that DMS junior doctors' pay includes an element for NHS out of hours payments.

From their assessment of pay comparability following the introduction of the NHS pay Banding system on 1 December 2000, the armed forces Pay Review Body recommended a supplementary pro rata

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payment of £5,000 to DMS doctors under training for the period 1 December 2000 to 31 March 2002. The question of supplementary payments for subsequent years will be addressed in the Department's annual papers of evidence to the Review Body.

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