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Convention on the Future of Europe

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Secretary of State has had about the impact on UK constitutional arrangements of the work of the Convention on the Future of Europe. [134522]

Mr. MacShane: The Government believes that there is a strong case for a single, coherent constitution for the European Union. In effect, the existing treaties already make up a constitutional structure. However, they are overly complex and unclear. For this reason, the Government supports redrafting, restructuring and consolidating the treaties.

The draft Constitution as it stands is not perfect. It contains points which we want to examine in more detail. And we could only accept a final text that made it clear that issues like tax, defence and foreign policy remained the province of the nation State. Provided there is clarity on these points, the reforms proposed by the Convention should be welcomed. They do not alter the fundamental constitutional relationship between the UK and the Union.

The Government published in September Command Paper 5934, setting out its views on the draft Treaty prepared by the Convention, and its implications. This followed detailed discussion and consideration of the draft, both within Government and, for example, in Parliament itself. Members of Parliament took part in

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the Convention, and committees of Parliament have issued so far this year over a dozen reports on the Convention text.

Cyprus

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 16 October 2003, Official Report, column 336W, on Cyprus, what concerns over the Cyprus settlement negotiations were raised during the most recent EU Working Group on south-east Europe; what decisions were taken to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement. [134428]

Mr. MacShane: Member states agreed at the 8 October Working Group that the EU should continue to do all in its power to bring about the conditions necessary for a resumption of talks on the basis of the UN Secretary-General's comprehensive proposals. We continue to share the Secretary-General's judgment about what those conditions are, including the clear demonstration of sufficient political commitment by the parties concerned. The EU has already made a key contribution to the settlement process by signalling its willingness to accommodate the terms of a Cyprus settlement arrived at under UN auspices.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports (a) he, (b) his Department and (c) representatives of the United Kingdom Government have received of incursions of Rwandan troops into the Democratic Republic of the Congo; what discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of Rwanda concerning these reports; what assurances were (i) requested and (ii) offered during these discussions; and if he will make a statement. [134469]

Mr. Mullin: We are aware of continuing reports of incursions of Rwandan troops into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These reports have been investigated by the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) and found to be unsubstantiated. We discuss such reports with the Government of Rwanda, at both Ministerial and official level. They have assured us their armed forces withdrew from DRC in October 2002, as provided for in the Pretoria Agreement of 30 July 2002, and have not re-entered.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports (a) he, (b) his Department and (c) representatives of the United Kingdom Government have received on the regrouping of Interahamwe militia groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; what assessment his Department has made of the impact on security in the region; and if he will make a statement. [134470]

Mr. Mullin: We are aware of reports that Interahamwe militia and ex-Forces Armees Rwandaises (ex-FAR/I) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are regrouping. While these reports are difficult to verify, the ex-FAR/I pose a real threat to the security of Rwanda and the stability of the region as a whole. Their disarmament, demobilisation, repatriation, resettlement and reintegration (DDRRR) is crucial to

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long-term stability. The UN mission in the DRC (MONUC) is mandated to undertake voluntary demobilisation of the ex-FAR/I and other foreign armed groups in DRC and we fully support their efforts. We are encouraged by the recent statement of the Transitional National Government (TNG) in Kinshasa, that the TNG would no longer tolerate the presence on its national territory of the ex-FAR/I. The recent visit to Kinshasa by a high-level Rwandan delegation to discuss how the two countries can work together to help resolve this problem is a further positive sign.

EU External Action Service

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what budget, and how many staff, are planned for the EU External Action Service, as defined in the Declaration attached to the Draft Constitution. [134310]

Mr. MacShane: The Inter Governmental Conference has not yet discussed the issue of the proposed European External Action Service. Firm decisions on the budget and staff numbers will depend on the outcome of the Inter Governmental Conference.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution in (a) money and (b) personnel the UK plans to make to the European External Action Service under the Declaration to the Draft EU Constitution. [134311]

Mr. MacShane: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to him today (UIN 134310). The United Kingdom contribution to the European External Action Service will depend on the decisions taken on the service's budget and staff.

EU Working Group on South East Europe

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the EU Working Group on South East Europe last met; where it met; what issues were on the agenda; and if he will make a statement. [134427]

Mr. MacShane: The Working Group last met in Brussels on 8 October. Topics discussed included the state of the Cyprus settlement process, political developments in the north of Cyprus, the EU's trade and aid package for the north of Cyprus, education for Greek Cypriots in the north of Cyprus, Turkey's internal situation, Turkey's EU accession course and the Loizidou case.

The Government are determined to do all they can to achieve peace, prosperity and security in south-east Europe. We believe that a Cyprus settlement on the basis of the Annan plan and Turkey's fulfilment of the requirements for EU membership, followed by Turkish accession to the EU, are fundamental to that goal.

European Agencies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 16 October 2003, Official Report, column 332W, on European Agencies, which other countries have bid for the location of European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA); and if he will make a statement. [134424]

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Mr. MacShane: Four other countries have bid to host the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA): Portugal, Greece, Italy and France. No agreement on the location of the EMSA is yet in sight.

Iraq

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long the search in Iraq for weapons of mass destruction will continue. [132313]

Mr. MacShane: No time limit has been set for completion of the search. It will continue for as long as it is necessary to satisfy ourselves that no weapons or associated programmes remain in Iraq.

Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the Consular Assistance Group in recovering a constituent, Mr. Raeid Jewad's, camcorder that was confiscated by US soldiers in Iraq; and what progress has been made to secure Mr. Jewad compensation for the loss of his possession. [132994]

Mr. Mullin: We have made inquiries with US military authorities. They have assured us that they are looking into the matter. We shall continue to press them for a formal response.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British personnel are part of the Iraq Survey Group (ISG); who commissioned the ISG report; and if he will make a statement. [133779]

Mr. Straw: As at 20 October there were 65 UK personnel under the control of the Iraq Survey Group. The Iraq Survey Group's interim report presented on 2 October was produced on the basis of an understanding by Dr. Kay that a progress report should be produced. There is no formal requirement on the ISG to report according to a particular timetable.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has received the full version of the Iraq Survey Group report; and if he will make a statement. [133780]

Mr. Straw: A full copy of the interim report of the Iraq Survey Group was passed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at the time of its presentation.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I have both publicly stated the Government's position with regard to the report and the continuing search for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

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