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Judges
Mr. Cash: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether he plans to amend the provisions relating to judges' (a) security of tenure, (b) salaries and pensions and (c) discipline. [126748]
Mr. Leslie: There are no plans to amend the security of tenure of Judges.
Paragraph 99 of the consultation paper "Constitutional Reform: A New Way of Appointing Judges" published on 14 July explains that responsibility for Judicial pay and pensions will remain a matter for the Government but that there could be a role for the proposed Judicial Appointments Commission in giving evidence to the Review Body on Senior Salaries on the appropriate level of Judicial salaries.
Options for the future arrangements for the discipline of judges are discussed in detail in paragraphs 100–108 of the consultation paper. A copy of this paper is in the Member's library, and can also be found on the internet at www.dca.gov.uk/consult/jacommission/.
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Queen's Counsel
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will abolish the QC system; and if he will make a statement. [120009]
Mr. Leslie: I refer my hon. Friend to the response given by my noble and learned Friend the Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor, the Lord Falconer of Thoroton, in response to a question from Earl Ferrers, on 16 June 2003, Official Report, House of Lords, column 522. I also refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given by my noble and learned Friend on 19 June 2003, column WA131 as to the timetable for consultation on this issue.
Race Relations
Angela Eagle: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made in the Lord Chancellor's Department and non-departmental public bodies on implementing the requirements of the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000; and if he will publish the results of the monitoring required by the Act. [117472]
Mr. Lammy: The Department for Constitutional Affairs is fully committed to providing equality of opportunity and valuing diversity in everything it does. Our Race Equality Scheme was published by the Lord Chancellor's Department (as it then was) in May 2002 and sets out the action the Department will take to meet its statutory duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. The Scheme identifies the policies and functions of the Department that have a high relevance to meeting the general statutory duty and outlines the programme of action that is being undertaken in each case in order to meet that duty. Diversity awareness training has been provided for all permanent staff and we have incorporated diversity awareness into induction training for new staff. In accordance with the requirements of the Act we will publish a summary of the assessments, consultation exercises and monitoring we carry out and this will be included as part of the Equality and Diversity Annual Report. We will conduct a review of the Scheme in 2004 to assess which of our functions and policies are relevant to meeting the statutory duties and will publish a revised Scheme by 1 April 2005.
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs on how many occasions between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2003 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited; and how much each visit cost. [126686]
Mr. Leslie: Between 31 March 2001 and 1 April 2003 the Special Adviser in my Department travelled abroad on one occasion, at cost of £374.00 per trip. Information for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2000 is already in the public domain. All travel by Special Advisers is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code, and the Civil Service Management Code.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Burundi
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Burundi transitional government regarding establishing a Burundian Protection Force to replace the South African troops [126402]
Mr. Mullin: The South African Government has committed troops to form the VIP protection force guarding returning exiled Hutu politicians. Under the agreement between the governments of South Africa and Burundi, the South African National Defence Force would provide training for their Burundian replacements. The implementation of this arrangement is a matter for the two governments.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Department has had with the Governments of (a) Senegal, (b) Nigeria and (c) Ghana, on the troops pledged to Burundi. [126403]
Mr. Mullin: We are in regular contact with the governments of Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana. Each would require a total ceasefire to be in place before committing troops to Burundi. An all-inclusive ceasefire has not yet been achieved. South Africa, Mozambique and Ethiopia have now committed approximately 3,000 troops to the African Union led African Mission in Burundi. We have provided £3.9 million to the Mozambican Government to help equip their contingent.
Family Visit Visas
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to ensure that would-be sponsors of refused family visit visa applicants are aware of the benefits of an oral appeal. [120759]
Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 June 2003, Official Report, column 813W.
Madrid Initiative
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK Government officials attended the Canberra meeting on 11 July to discuss the Madrid initiative; what was (a) agreed and (b) discussed at the meeting; and when and where the next meeting will be held. [126465]
Mr. Rammell [holding answer 17 July 2003]: The meeting to discuss the proliferation and security initiative took place in Brisbane on 9 and 10 July. The UK delegation to the meeting was led by the Director for International Security at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He was supported by officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
There was wide-ranging discussion about how to take forward the initiative following on from the first meeting held in Madrid in June. The chairman of the meeting
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issued a statement covering the discussions. This can be found on the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) internet website at www.dfat.gov.au/globalissues.
It is likely that the next meeting will be held in France in early September.
Progressive Governance Conference
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Government Department will be financially responsible for the cost of the Progressive Governance Conference held between 11 and 14 July; and how much the event cost [126412]
Mr. Rammell: The Progressive Governance Conference from 11–13 July was organised and paid for by the think-tank Policy Network. No Government Department was involved.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office organised the Progressive Governance Summit on 13–14 July for the heads of state or government of 14 countries. The cost of organising the Summit is estimated at 130,000. Final figures will be available in due course.
Ambassadors
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ambassadors he has appointed since 1997; and if he will list them. [125522]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Since May 1997, the following heads of mission have been appointed:
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And permanent Representative who have the personal rank of ambassador:
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