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Malaysian Prime Minister

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the speech by the Malaysian Prime Minister at the opening of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 16 October; what discussions (a) he (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the United Kingdom Government have had with (i) members and (ii) representatives of the government of Malaysia regarding this speech; and if he will make a statement. [134431]

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Mr. Stephen O'Brien: Dr. Mahathir's comments about Jews in his speech to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Summit on 16 October were totally unacceptable. I summoned the Malaysian high commissioner on 17 October, and made our position clear. I said it was particularly regrettable that some welcome messages in Dr. Mahathir's speech—such as negotiation as the path to peace, and the futility of terrorism—had been overshadowed by his outburst about Jews.

On 20 October the British high commissioner in Kuala Lumpur repeated our position to the Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Secretary General argued that Dr. Mahathir had made clear repeatedly that he was not anti-Semitic, and that the speech showed his unequivocal opposition to terrorism and the use of violence in Palestine, including suicide bombings.

The EU Presidency issued a statement on 16 October condemning Dr. Mahathir's remarks on behalf of all member states.

Pamplona Bull Run

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Spanish Government in respect of the welfare implications of the running of the bulls in Pamplona. [135093]

Mr. MacShane: The Government takes seriously reports of cruelty to animals. Where appropriate, our Embassies overseas, including our Embassy in Madrid, bring such issues to the attention of the government concerned, and encourages them to adopt acceptable standards of animal welfare. They also convey the strength of public opposition in the UK to the exploitation of animals overseas.

Passport Renewal (Harare)

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost is for renewal of a British passport at the British High Commission in Harare; and what the cost was on (a) 1 January 1997, (b) 1 January 2000 and (c) 1 January 2003. [135030]

Mr. Mullin: The fee charged by any British Diplomatic Mission to issue a standard adult passport is currently £56.50. The fee has previously been set at:

(a) 1 January 1997—£18.00

(b) 1 January 2000—£49.00

(c) 1 January 2003—£54.40

The fee recovered would have been the local currency equivalent of the above sterling amounts.

Proliferation Security Initiative Group

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) matters were discussed, and (b) decisions were taken, at the meeting of the Proliferation Security Initiative Group of States in early October; what resources are committed in support of this initiative; when future meetings will be held; and if he will make a statement. [133311]

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Mr. MacShane: The Chairman's conclusions from the meeting were published on 10 October, and can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk/internationalsecurity. I refer my hon. Friend also to the written statement that I made to this House on 22 October.

For the present, work on the initiative is being funded from within existing resources. Any decisions regarding the commitment of additional resources to the initiative will be taken on a case-by-case basis dependent upon future operational requirements. The next meeting of the Proliferation Security Initiative will be held in Portugal early in 2004.

Rebel Groups (Kenya)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the progress of the discussions between the Sudanese Government and rebel groups in the Kenyan town of Naivasha; what assessment he has made of the likelihood of significant progress in 2003; and if he will make a statement. [134718]

Mr. Mullin: We are optimistic about the prospects for peace between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). We assess that there is a good chance of agreement this year or early next year. The latest round of talks adjourned on 26 October for the month of Ramadan. There are outstanding problems which need to be resolved, on power and wealth sharing, the three conflict areas (of Southern Blue Nile, the Nuba Mountains and Abyei) and ceasefire and security issues. Discussion of these issues is expected to resume on 1 December. We are confident that, with the continued commitment of both parties, there will be no barriers to signing a peace deal. On 25 September, the parties signed a Framework Agreement on Security Arrangements during the Interim Period.

We continue to offer the parties and mediators our full support and advice and remain actively involved in helping them reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Access to Work Programme

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people with disabilities enrolled in the Access to Work Programme in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [133875]

Jane Kennedy: The number of people with disabilities on the Access to Work programme in each of the last three years is as follows:

2000–01—495


2001–02—540


2002–03—620

Energy Industry

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2003, Official Report, column 957W, on the energy

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industry, what mechanisms for reducing energy costs in Northern Ireland are planned to enable a more efficient means of financing energy assets and contracts; and if he will make a statement. [122807]

Mr. Pearson: A working group of economists is examining a range of mechanisms, including a legislative low cost borrowing option, for reducing energy costs in Northern Ireland and is due to report shortly. The outcomes of discussions on the consultation papers "Competition and Customer Empowerment" published by the Regulator on 4 March 2003 and "Towards a New Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland", published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on 17 April 2003, will also shape future announcements in this area.

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets he has set for the working group set up to examine practical options for reducing energy costs in Northern Ireland; when the working group is due to report; and if he will make a statement. [122808]

Mr. Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to PQ Written No 122807. No targets have been set for the working group which is expected to report shortly.

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Government will make a decision on the introduction of legislation to reduce the cost of borrowing in the Northern Ireland energy market sector; and if he will make a statement. [122809]

Mr. Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to PQ Written No 122807. A legislative low cost borrowing mechanism is one of the options being examined by the working group of economists which will report to me shortly.

Saville Inquiry

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the costs of the Saville Inquiry, broken down by the cost of (a) instructing solicitors, (b) instructing counsel, (c) inquiry accommodation, (d) travel and accommodation for (i) relatives of the victims and (ii) other witnesses and (e) other costs. [129905]

Mr. Spellar : Up to end August 2003 the cost of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry was £119.7 million. The cash spend by the Northern Ireland Office on the Inquiry was a total of £94.6 million. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence advises me that his Department has spent £25.1 million. Breaking these down in the categories requested gives the following figures:

£000

	NIO	MOD
(a) Instructing Solicitors	24,160	7,300
(b) Instructing counsel	15,630	15,400
(c) Inquiry Accommodation	13,517	330
(d) Travel and Accommodation for
(i) relatives of the victims	467
(ii) other witnesses	32	44
(e) Other costs	(5)40,801	(6)2,100

⁽⁵⁾ Figure includes salary costs of Tribunal members (except Lord Saville) and Inquiry staff, IT equipment, expert witnesses, office services and security, telecommunications and other miscellaneous office expenditure.

⁽⁶⁾ For the MOD the figure includes Inquiry related staff and support costs, an MOD Police Investigation and other miscellaneous fees and expenses.

Totals may not be exact due to rounding.

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