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Sudan

Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to (a) promote respect for human rights and justice among participants in the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development sponsored peace process in Sudan and (b) encourage the inclusion and participation in the peace process of hitherto excluded political parties and civil society groups. [136223]

Mr. Mullin: In their decision to end the civil war, the parties recognise that the principle of human rights must be at the core of any peace agreement. We have taken every opportunity to reiterate this message. On 14 October the Government of Sudan released from house arrest Dr. Hassan al-Turabi, the leader of the Popular National Congress, as well as other political prisoners. We welcome this step towards reconciliation of all parties.

We are considering ways to strengthen civil society participation in consolidating peace and, with others, to support the establishment of a Human Rights Commission and other relevant institutions following a peace agreement. We will also look at ways to support the development of an effective public administration and judicial system throughout Sudan.

Human Rights is at the forefront of our policy in helping Sudan reach a comprehensive peace agreement.

Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Government of Sudan since the end of the temporary ceasefire on finding a political solution to the conflict in Darfur. [136225]

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Mr. Mullin: Our Embassy in Khartoum continues to focus on the issue of Darfur and is following closely both the humanitarian situation and the political dialogue at the Abeche peace talks.

We believe that the Abeche Agreement did not stipulate an end to the cease-fire and we call on both parties to respect that agreement. Our Ambassador to Sudan has spoken to the Government of Sudan on a number of occasions, and continues to do so, about the need for a process of political engagement.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan on the house detention of Dr. Hassan al-Turabi. [136492]

Mr. Mullin: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to him on 23 October 2003, Official Report, column 713W. Dr. Hassan al-Turabi, and other political prisoners, were released on 13 October 2003.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security agreement signed between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement; and what assessment he has made of the prospects for long-lasting peace in Sudan. [136494]

Mr. Mullin: I refer my hon. Friend to the joint press statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the then Secretary of State for International Development (Baroness Amos) on 25 September in which they welcomed the Framework Agreement on Security Arrangements during the Interim Period. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases. We believe that this is a reflection of the commitment of both Parties and an important step towards peace.

We are encouraged by the progress made so far and are optimistic for the prospects of peace in the long term.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to trail assets moved by spouses and children of senior ZANU PF officials; and if he will make a statement. [135259]

Mr. Mullin: In 2002 the EU imposed an asset freeze on senior members of the Zimbabwe government. The list of targets includes Grace Mugabe, Robert Mugabe's wife. We are obliged to locate and freeze any assets held by her in the UK. While no other spouses or children of senior Zanu PF officials are on the sanctions list, if a UK bank suspects that an account in someone else's name is being used by or for a Zimbabwean on the sanctions list then it should be reported to the Bank of England.

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he

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has made to the threat by Mr. Robert Mugabe to use British citizens as hostages in the event of British action. [135310]

Mr. Mullin: Mugabe has made a range of threats in response to alleged British plans to intervene in Zimbabwe. There are no such plans.

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his response to the Eighth Report of Session 2002–03 from the Foreign Affairs Committee on Zimbabwe, if he will now revisit his decision not to take steps to strip Mr. Robert Mugabe of his honorary knighthood. [135342]

Mr. Mullin: Our position on this remains unchanged. We do not view the removal of Mugabe's honorary knighthood, conferred on him in 1994, on the recommendation of the previous government, as an immediate priority. Our current efforts are focused on providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Zimbabwe, whilst encouraging the return of a democratically accountable government which respects human rights and the rule of law. We may nevertheless revisit this question in the future.

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his plans for (a) the consular section of the British

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High Commission in Harare and (b) the processing of applications for entry clearance from Zimbabwean nationals. [135428]

Mr. Mullin: The High Commission in Harare is currently offering a full range of consular and entry clearance services. There are no plans to change the consular services provided by the British High Commission in Harare, including the processing of entry clearance applications.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Expenditure

Mr. Prisk: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what total expenditure by the Electoral Commission has been on (a) consultations, (b) pilot schemes, (c) conferences, (d) publications and (e) staffing costs for each financial year from 2001; and if he will make a statement. [135068]

Mr. Viggers: Total expenditure by the Electoral Commission, rounded to the nearest £1,000, on (a) consultations, (b) pilot schemes, (c) conferences, (d) publications and (e) staffing costs, for each financial year from 1 April 2001, is set out in the following table:

£000

	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)
	Consultations	Pilot schemes	Conferences	Publications	Staffing
2001–02	69	n/a	1	697	1,371
2002–03	964	168	45	1,548	3,136
2003–04(5)	672	701	59	563	2,044

⁽⁵⁾ To end September 2003.

Notes:

1. Figures given in columns (a) and (b) exclude staffing, publications and conference costs relating to these work streams. These costs appear as part of the global figures in columns (c), (d) and (e).

2. Consultation costs include consultation activities and public opinion research undertaken by the Electoral Commission in relation to policy reviews under section 6 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) and to inform the preparation of statutory election reports under section 5 of PPERA. It also includes consultation exercises carried out by the Boundary Committee for England since April 2002 in relation to Periodic Electoral Reviews. Boundary Committee for England costs associated with consultations carried out as part of the current Local Government Reviews are also included; however, there is an offsetting Appropriation in Aid from the budget of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to meet these costs.

3. The Boundary Committee for England was established as part of The Electoral Commission on 1 April 2002. Costs for 2001–02 therefore do not include the costs associated with periodic electoral reviews of English local authorities, which in that year were being undertaken by the Local Government Commission for England.

4. The Commission first evaluated an electoral pilot scheme in April 2002. No costs were therefore incurred in 2001–02.

5. Staffing costs include secondees and agency staff.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Double Summer Time

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research she has commissioned on the effects of the possible introduction of double summertime. [135833]

Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government have no current plans to alter the present summer time arrangements as previous research concluded that the disadvantages outweighed the benefits.

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