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Zimbabwe

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he last examined the methods used by aid agencies funded by his Department to draw up lists of aid recipients in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [138409]

Hilary Benn: DFID routinely subjects all proposals for UK funding to detailed technical appraisal before spending is approved. In the case of food aid to Zimbabwe, our most recent pledge of £5 million to support the Emergency Operation of the World Food Programme (WFP) followed close examination of the operational procedures set out in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the WFP and the Government of Zimbabwe on 25 September. This included the process for identifying those members of the community who are in greatest need, regardless of political considerations or affiliation. WFP conducts rigorous training of its Implementing Partners (NGOs) on these procedures

In addition to UK's support for the WFP Emergency Operation, DFID is also providing funds directly to international and local NGOs who are undertaking humanitarian work in Zimbabwe, focusing on HIV/AIDS affected households, malnourished children and other vulnerable groups. Again, approval of financial support has been based upon careful technical appraisal of the approach and procedures for each proposal.

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 5 November 2003, Official Report, column 653W, on Zimbabwe, if he will make it his policy to urge the United Nations to monitor delivery of food aid in Zimbabwe to its final recipients. [138550]

Hilary Benn: As I indicated in my previous reply, the United Nations closely monitors the delivery of food aid to its final recipients by the UN World Food Programme

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(WFP). In response to pressure from the UK and other donors, the WFP has already strengthened its own internal monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities. Particular emphasis is placed on monitoring and reporting of any incidences of political interference. WFP also undertakes post-distribution monitoring, in which vulnerable households who were targeted for assistance are interviewed to assess their views of the selection and distribution processes. Donors and the UNDP have jointly established a Relief and Recovery Unit with the purpose of co-ordinating information about all ongoing humanitarian activities funded by the international community. This covers not only food but also other forms of assistance such as medicines, seeds and fertilisers. It also covers the operations of NGOs directly funded by donors, outside the UN Emergency Operation.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH

Animal Welfare

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the Protocol on Protection and Welfare of Animals enacted by the Treaty of Amsterdam remains part of European Union law by being annexed to the proposed new treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [135664]

Mr. MacShane: The Government support annexation of the Protocol on the Protection and Welfare of Animals to the EU Constitutional Treaty. We have put the case for doing so in the legal experts group mandated to consider this in the Intergovernmental Conference.

Departmental Energy Use

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much (a) electricity and (b) other energy his Department has used in each year since 1997 (i) in total and (ii) per square metre; what the projected use is for each of the following years for which forecasts are made; what plans he has to reduce usage; and if he will make a statement. [135053]

Mr. Rammell: I refer the hon. Member in reply to parts (a) and (b) to the reply given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw) on 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 403W.

Compared to the previous year, the FCO's projected energy consumption in 2003–04 is an increase of 3 per cent. in total electricity usage. This is accounted for by the demands in development of our major financial management system (PRISM) and the modernisation of FCO working practices and procedures. These both rely heavily on electrically powered electronic technology. A decrease of 1 per cent. in other energy usage is projected.

We aim to achieve reductions by upgrading building facilities, using more energy efficient equipment, staff awareness campaigns and close monitoring of consumption.

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Gibraltar

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the closure of the border between Spain and Gibraltar; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the border between Spain and Gibraltar is re-opened as soon as possible. [136915]

Mr. MacShane: The border between Spain and Gibraltar re-opened at 20:10 local time on 3 November.

As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear, we regarded the closure as unnecessary, unwelcome and disproportionate. We take the same view of the "health checks" imposed by the Spanish authorities subsequent to the border re-opening.

Government's Wine Cellar

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is responsible for the management of the Government's wine cellar. [136355]

Mr. Rammell: The Government Wine Cellar is administered on a day-to-day basis by the Head of Government Hospitality, a civil servant in Conference and Visits Group of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Advice on the stock and quality of wines in the cellar is given by the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine (GHACPW), composed of four appointed Masters of Wine and a Chairman. The GHACPW is an advisory non-departmental public body that reports to me as the Minister responsible for Government Hospitality and FCO Services as a whole.

Iraq

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the numbers of UK citizens travelling to Iraq to fight against coalition forces; and if he will make a statement. [137140]

Mr. Rammell [holding answer 10 November 2003]: We are aware of references in the media to this issue, but we have no reports to suggest that significant numbers of UK citizens are preparing to travel to, or are in Iraq, to fight Coalition forces. Nevertheless, we continue to investigate reports of this nature.

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the intentions of aid agencies to stay in Iraq. [137523]

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.

In the current circumstances in Iraq, aid agencies are understandably keeping under review their security procedures, their ways of working and the extent to which they maintain a presence in the country. Decisions in these areas are of course for them to take. DFID keeps in close contact with the United Nations and non-governmental organisations, particularly those which receive DFID funding, and is able to offer advice where appropriate, DFID has offered £3 million towards UN security measures in response to an appeal following the bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad in August. DFID has also offered additional

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finance, if needed, for increased security provisions for those NGOs that we are supporting in Iraq. DFID, and other Government Departments, have put in place special security provisions for their own staff working in Iraq.

Israel

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the destruction of the shipment of vitamins meant for children in the Gaza Strip sent by The Holy Land Trust, Rabbis for Human Rights and the Palestine Children's Welfare Fund. [136783]

Mr. Rammell: We have not made representations to the Israeli Government about the specific shipment referred to. We have not been able to establish the fate of the shipment. But we continue to discuss with the Government of Israel the general humanitarian impact of its policies and the importance of unfettered access to humanitarian aid throughout the Occupied Territories.

Morocco

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what purposes the export licences to Morocco listed in the Strategic Export Controls report 2002 as involving (a) toxic chemical precursors and (b) technology for the production of toxins were granted. [136741]

Mr. Rammell: The 'toxic chemical precursors' were to be exported to Morocco for use in toothpaste preparation.

The

'technology for the production of toxins' to be exported to Morocco was for regulatory dossiers relating to the manufacture, safety and efficacy of medicines.

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