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23 Oct 2003 : Column 718W—continued
Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the United Kingdom in relation to the implementation of the disarmament objectives set out at the end of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2000; and if he will make a statement. [133027]
Mr. Straw [holding answer 22 October 2003]: The United Kingdom remains fully committed to all aspects of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including global and verifiable nuclear disarmament. We have an excellent record in fulfilling our NPT obligations on nuclear disarmament. Consistent with the policy set out in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, the UK has gone further than other Nuclear Weapon States in implementing the measures agreed in the Final Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference.
More specifically, the UK has:
- withdrawn and dismantled the RAF's freefall nuclear bomb so that Trident is now our only nuclear weapons system;
reduced our operationally available stockpile to fewer than 200 warheads, which is a reduction of more than 70 per cent. in the potential explosive power of our nuclear forces since the end of the Cold War;
dismantled the UK's last Chevaline warhead last year;
reduced the readiness of our nuclear forces: only a single Trident submarine is now on deterrent patrol, carrying 48 warheads. The submarine on patrol is normally on several days 'notice to fire' and its missiles are de-targeted;
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placed fissile material no longer required for defence purposes under international safeguards. All enrichment and reprocessing facilities in the UK are now liable to international inspection; and
been more transparent about our nuclear and fissile material stockpiles and begun a national historical accounting study for fissile material produced.
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the states in the Middle East that have (a) signed and (b) ratified the (i) Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, (ii) Chemical Weapons Convention and (iii) Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. [133028]
Mr. Straw [holding answer 22 October 2003]: States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) include:
- Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
- Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen. Israel has signed but not ratified the CWC.
- Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen. Egypt. United Arab Emirates and Syria have signed but not ratified the BWC.
Pakistan
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Pakistan on the proposal of exempting religious universities from the imposition of Shariah Law. [133615]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I discussed the Shariah Law with the Pakistani High Commissioner on 22 September 2003. I understand that the authorities in the North West Frontier Province will apply the Sharia Law to educational institutions.
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Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Pakistani authorities on the current status of the blasphemy law. [133616]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I discussed the blasphemy laws with the Pakistani High Commissioner on 22 September 2003. She told me that her Government was taking action to prevent abuses of these laws. The British High Commission in Islamabad remains in close touch with representatives of Christian and other religious minorities in Pakistan.
Soviet Arctic Circle Region Medal
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from veterans who wish to accept the Russian Defence of the Soviet Arctic Circle Region Medal. [133543]
Mr. Rammell: Since June 2003, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received two telephone inquiries and one letter from veterans wishing to accept the Russian Defence of the Soviet Arctic Circle Region Medal.
Sudan
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the release from house arrest of Dr. al-Turabi by the Government of the Sudan. [133617]
Mr. Mullin: We welcome the release of Dr. al-Turabi and other political prisoners. We hope that the Government of Sudan will continue the process of reconciliation with all other parties.
Zimbabwe
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on the potential attendance of (a) Robert Mugabe and (b) Zimbabwe officials and Ministers on the EU travel ban list at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in December 2003. [132573]
Mr. Straw: As it is suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth, no invitation has been issued to the Government of Zimbabwe. This is in line with past Commonwealth practice. The EU's travel ban obviously does not apply to Abuja, Nigeria, where the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting is being held as Nigeria is not a member of the EU.
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the British Government (a) has had and (b) plans to have with the government of (i) Australia, (ii) South Africa and (iii) Nigeria on President Robert Mugabe's attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in December. [132574]
Mr. Straw: We have had regular discussions with the governments of Australia, South Africa and Nigeria on this issue. These discussions will continue in the run-up to CHOGM.
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DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Buildmark Warranty Scheme
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make representations to the chief executive of the National Home-Building Council to extend the cover provided by the Buildmark Warranty Scheme to include permanent external fixtures in addition to structural defects. [133357]
Phil Hope: The terms of the Buildmark scheme are a matter for the council and board of the National House-Building Council (NHBC). I am aware that the NHBC keeps the terms of the scheme under review. The cover provided in years three to 10 of Buildmark agreements has been extended over recent years to include damage occurring in external render and external vertical tile hanging, tile and slate roof coverings, and multiple glazing, as well as structural matters and various non- structural internal features. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans at present for any representations to the NHBC about adding to the list of non-structural external features included in the cover.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent meetings he has had with the chief executive of the National Home-Building Council to discuss its Buildmark Warranty Scheme. [133358]
Keith Hill: My right hon. Friend the Lord Rooker met the chairman and the chief executive of the National House Building Council in April this year, to discuss matters of common interest, including the Buildmark scheme.
Council Housing Stock
Mr. Skinner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many local authorities have transferred the whole or part of their housing stock in each year since 1990; [133768]
- (2) how many local councils have transferred (a) all and (b) some of their housing stock to (i) housing associations and (ii) bodies other than housing associations. [133772]
Keith Hill: The number of local authorities who have transferred whole or part of their housing stock in each year since 1990 are tabled as follows:
| Number of Authorities transferring stock | |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 8 |
| 1991 | 5 |
| 1992 | 2 |
| 1993 | 5 |
| 1994 | 12 |
| 1995 | 9 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 1997 | 5 |
| 1998 | 15 |
| 1999 | 24 |
| 2000 | 18 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2003 | (15)10 |
(15) to date
A local authority may only transfer its tenanted stock to a Registered Social Landlord.
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Mr. Skinner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will hold discussions with representatives of local councils wishing to retain control of their housing stock. [133769]
Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would welcome discussions with local authorities to discuss the options for delivering the decent homes target.
Mr. Skinner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what central government financial inducements are available to local councils when transferring housing stock to (a) housing associations and (b) other outside bodies. [133771]
Keith Hill: There are no central government financial inducements available to a local authority when transferring its housing stock. A local authority may only transfer its tenanted housing stock to a Registered Social Landlord, a housing organisation registered with the Housing Corporation, of which a housing association is one such organisation.
Mr. Skinner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities which retain control of their housing stock receive the same financial assistance as local authorities which transfer their housing stock. [134014]
Keith Hill: The Sustainable Communities Plan made it clear that local authorities seeking additional investment in their housing stock, in order to meet the decent home standard, are able to choose from three options: stock transfer, the Private Finance Initiative and setting up an Arms Length Management Organisation.
The resources available for social housing, although greatly increased under this Government, are limited. To make best use of those resources the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will only provide additional funding to councils that separate their landlord and strategic functions. This provides a strong incentive to better performance; ensures a sharper focus on the two distinct housing functions; and guarantees that tenants have a greater role in the future management of their homes.
In a number of cases local authorities are able to meet the decent homes standard out of their mainstream funding.
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