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Departmental Staff
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) special advisers, (b) press officers, (c) civil servants, (d) advisers to civil servants and (e) permanent staff were working for his Department in each year since 1996. [126484]
Mr. Rammell: The answer to the hon. Member's question can be found in answers to previous Parliamentary Questions and in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Departmental Reports, as follows:
- (a) I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Mike O'Brien) gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (David Laws) on 23 January 2003, Official Report, column 469W
- (b) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Ben Bradshaw) to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Andrew Turner) on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 63W. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) on 2 July 2003 Official Report, column 310W.
(c) I refer the hon. Member to the 2003 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Departmental Report page 163.
(d) The FCO does not employ advisers to civil servants.
(e) See answer (c) above.
Entry Clearance Officers
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many entry clearance officers there are in (a) Islamabad, (b) New Delhi, (c) Mumbai and (d) Dhaka, Bangladesh. [125518]
Mr. Rammell: Listed are the authorised establishment for entry clearance in:
- (a) Islamabad: UK based—41.00, LE—64.60. Total 105.60 1
(b) New Delhi: UK based—15.90, LE—46.00. Total 61.90
(c) Mumbai: UK based—14.00, LE—28.05. Total 42.05
(d) Dhaka: UK based—17.70, LE—44.00. Total 61.70
1 Due to the earlier evacuation of staff from the High Commission in Islamabad the post is not yet fully staffed and three of the UK based positions are vacant. These vacant positions are included in the authorised establishment.
European Council of Ministers
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many informal meetings of the European Council of Ministers took place (a) between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2002 and (b) between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2003; when these meetings took place; what topics were discussed at these meetings; and if he will make a statement. [126106]
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Mr. Rammell: Seven informal meetings of the Council of Ministers took place between 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2002, on the following dates and covering the following topics:
- 12–13 July on Employment and Social Policy;
19–21 July on Environment issues;
1 September on Foreign Affairs (Gymnich Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs);
6–8 September on Finance (informal ECOFIN Council);
8–10 September on Agriculture and Fisheries;
12–13 September on Justice and Home Affairs;
18–19 October on the Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Industry.
- 24 January on Employment;
22 February on Energy;
14–15 February on Defence;
28–29 March on Justice and Home Affairs;
5 April on Education;
11–13 April on Finance (informal ECOFIN Council);
2–4 May on Foreign Affairs (Gymnich Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs);
5 May on Environment issues;
12–13 May on Agriculture and Fisheries;
16–17 May on Regional Policy;
24 May on Culture;
31 May-2 June on Merchant Marine;
6 June on Public Administration.
Mr. Rammell: Eleven informal meetings of the Council of Ministers took place during the Spanish Council presidency in 2002, on the following dates and covering the following topics:
- 25–26 January on Employment;
9–10 February on Foreign Affairs (Gymnich Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs);
14–15 February on Justice and Home Affairs;
22–23 February on Telecoms and the Information Society;
23–24 March on Defence;
13–14 April on Finance (ECOFIN);
27–30 April on Agriculture and Fisheries;
3–4 May on Tourism;
24–26 May on Environment issues;
31 May-1 June on Transport.
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Gibraltar
Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to resume co-sovereignty negotiations on the future of Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [126827]
Mr. Rammell: Our aim remains to secure a better future for Gibraltar. We will continue our dialogue with Spain and Gibraltar to this end. No dates have been set for further meetings under the Brussels Process.
Government Wine Cellar
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many bottles of (a) wine and (b) other alcoholic beverages there were in the Government wine cellar, managed by his Department, in each of the last 10 years; and what his estimate is of the value. [122847]
Mr. Rammell: The Government wine cellar contains a mix of fine wines, beverage wines and spirits and liqueurs. Stock levels vary but generally the cellar contains approximately 37,000 bottles, of which fewer than 700 are spirits or liqueurs. There has been no significant variation in the stock levels since 1993. It is not possible to give a break down of the ratio of wines to spirits, etc over the last 10 years without incurring disproportionate costs.
Fine wines are bought young and then stored until ready for use, enabling aged wines of excellent value to be used by the Government for their hospitality needs. The value of the stock is subjective and bears no relation to the purchase costs. The current value of the stock is estimated to be in the region of £1.7 million.
Hong Kong
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government has made in respect of article 23 of the basic law of Hong Kong to the Government of the People's Republic of China. [123024]
Mr. Rammell: Article 23 of the Basic Law states that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) shall enact national security legislation "on its own". We have therefore made frequent representations to the SAR Government on this issue, including at Ministerial level.
We have also discussed the issue with the Chinese Government. I did so with Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui in January and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did so on 25 June with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. On 21 July, during his visit to China, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed Article 23 with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
On 16 July I issued my fourth statement about Article 23, in which I welcomed the significant amendments to the legislation made by the SAR Government on 5 July. In particular I welcomed the decision to remove from the legislation the proposed new provisions regarding the proscription of Hong Kong organisations subordinate to organisations proscribed on the Mainland on national security grounds. This had been one of the main concerns of the
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people of Hong Kong and of the international community and we had repeatedly expressed our concern on this issue. I also welcomed the SAR Government's decision to delay passage of the legislation to allow more time for further discussion in Hong Kong.
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent negotiations have taken place between his officials and Chinese representatives regarding the preservation of Hong Kong's special status; and if he will make a statement on the role of the UK in Hong Kong. [126396]
Mr. Rammell: Negotiations took place between the UK and China about Hong Kong's special status prior to the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty on 1 July 1997.
Since then, there have been regular exchanges at Ministerial and official levels. During those, the situation in post-handover Hong Kong has frequently been discussed. Both sides agree on the importance of maintaining the principles of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong which provides Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy under the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reports regularly to Parliament on the implementation of the Joint Declaration. The most recent such report was published on 16 July (Cm 5864). Our assessment continues to be that, generally, 'One Country, Two Systems' is working well in practice.
We have a strong, forward-looking bilateral relationship with Hong Kong, a key partner for the UK in the Asia-Pacific region. Given Britain's role as a joint signatory of the Joint Declaration, we maintain a close interest in developments in Hong Kong.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Hong Kong. [126469]
Mr. Rammell: On 16 July we published our latest report to Parliament, which reported on a number of important developments in Hong Kong in the first half of the year (Cm 5864). Our overall assessment is that, generally, the "One Country, Two Systems" principle continues to work well in practice.
On the same day, I issued my fourth press statement about the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government's moves to introduce national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law. In this statement I welcomed the significant amendments to the legislation made by the SAR Government on 5 July. I particularly welcomed the decision to remove from the legislation the proposed new provisions regarding the proscription of Hong Kong organisations subordinate to organisations proscribed on the mainland on national security grounds. This had been one of the main concerns of the people of Hong Kong and of the international community and we had repeatedly expressed our concern on this issue. I also welcomed the SAR Government's decision to delay passage of the legislation to allow more time for further discussion in Hong Kong.
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Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Chinese Government's use of Article 23 legislation and the practice of Falun Gong in Hong Kong; what reports he has received on the extent of consultation by the Chinese Government with the people of Hong Kong on the use of Article 23; and what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the use of Article 23 in relation to the practice of Falun Gong and safeguards given to the people of Hong Kong when the territory was returned to China. [126508]
Mr. Rammell: Article 23 of the Basic Law (in effect Hong Kong's constitution) states:
- "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall enact laws on its own to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central People's Government (CPG) or theft of state secrets, to prohibit foreign political organisations or bodies from conducting political activities in the Region, and to prohibit political organisations or bodies of the Region from establishing ties with foreign political organisations or bodies."
I have issued three press statements about the legislation since it was introduced into the Legislative Council, most recently on 16 July when I welcomed the significant changes to the legislation made by the SAR Government on 5 July. I particularly welcomed the decision to remove from the legislation the proposed new provisions regarding the proscription of Hong Kong organisations subordinate to organisations proscribed on the Mainland on national security grounds. This had been one of the main concerns of the people of Hong Kong and of the international community and we had repeatedly expressed our concern on this issue. I also welcomed the SAR Government's decision to delay passage of the legislation to allow more time for further discussion in Hong Kong.
We shall continue to follow this issue closely.
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