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Council of Ministers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 1 September 2003, Official Report, columns 796–97W, on the European Council of Ministers, what items were on the agenda for the Gymnich Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs on (a) 1 September 2002, (b) 9 to 10 February 2002 and (c) 2 to 4 May 2003; when the agenda for each

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was received by his Department; whether the agenda was forwarded to the Scottish Executive; and if he will make a statement. [137294]

Mr. MacShane: The Gymnich Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs can take in all the key policy issues of the day, as well as broader strategic issues. The last four meetings have addressed inter alia such issues as: enlargement, wider Europe, counter proliferation, Middle East Peace Process, Western Balkans, ESDP and Iraq.

The Gymnich offers Foreign Ministers an opportunity to discuss broad policy themes in an informal setting. The nature of the Gymnich means that there is no formal agenda. The Gymnich does not form conclusions or take decisions. Items to be discussed are set out in a letter from the Foreign Minister of the country holding the Presidency to his colleagues. However, the issues actually discussed at the Gymnich often vary from the preliminary suggestions in this letter.

We usually receive the Presidency's letter about two weeks before the Gymnich. The letter is not a document, which is automatically forwarded to the Scottish Executive. However here, as elsewhere, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is alert to the need to consult the Scottish Executive on issues which touch on devolved areas in Scotland (including non-devolved matters which will have a distinctive impact of importance in Scotland) in line with the Concordat between HMG and the Scottish Executive.

India

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK's relationship with India. [138202]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Bilateral relations have steadily strengthened over recent years. Our relationship with the Indian government is now closer than it has been for a long time across a broad range of policy areas. UK development assistance will increase to £250 million in 2004–05. We are encouraging closer education links between the UK and India, including through a substantial British Council programme. And there has been a marked increase in bilateral trade to 5 billion in 2001. The large British community of Indian origin plays a very important part in maintaining and developing the UK's relationship with India.

Indonesia

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom citizens were affected by the flash floods in the Gunung Leuser national park on Sumatra Island, Indonesia on 3 November; how many United Kingdom citizens have been identified as (a) missing, (b) injured and (c) killed; what assistance the Government has offered the Government of Indonesia in their search and rescue operations; and if he will make a statement. [137293]

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Mr. Mullin: There are no reports of any British Nationals missing, injured or killed following the floods in the Gunung Leuser national park in Northern Sumatra. Our Consul-General went to Medan from 4 to 6 November and together with the Honorary Consul, visited the site, and checked with police, hospitals and mortuaries. We remain in close contact with the local authorities. Our Rapid Deployment Team was put on standby to help but was not, in the end, required.

The Indonesian Government has announced an assistance package of 1 billion Indonesian Rupiahs (£70,420) for reconstruction and relocation of displaced people. They have not sought any international assistance.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact the imposition of martial law in Aceh on 15 May has had on (a) civil rights and (b) media freedom in the area; when this was raised with (i) the head of the Aceh Martial Law Administration, (ii) President Megawati Sukarnoputri and (iii) representatives of the Government of Indonesia; what assurances were (A) requested and (B) received; and if he will make a statement. [137709]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We remain concerned about the situation in Aceh. Most recently, I met the Indonesian ambassador on Monday 10 November and raised our concerns about the extension of martial law, and the Indonesian Government's recent decision not to allow the Tokyo Group (EU, Japan, US and the World Bank) to visit Aceh. Our ambassador to Indonesia wrote to the Indonesian Government in August 2003 requesting that NGOs be granted permission to return to Aceh. When I visited Indonesia on 3–4 June 2003, I stressed to President Megawati that Indonesian military action in Aceh should be proportionate and in accordance with international standards on human rights. We have not approached the head of the Aceh Martial Law Administration as our concerns about the situation in Aceh are raised through Indonesian Central Government. Some media have recently been granted permission to gain access to Aceh to report on the situation there. NGOs have not yet been granted permission to return to Aceh.

We, with our EU partners, urged the Indonesian Government to protect non-combatants in the on-going operations in Aceh, and to pursue a peaceful negotiated solution to the conflict. We remain convinced that a long-term solution to the Aceh problem can be achieved only through political negotiation and consultation between the Indonesian Government and the Acehenese people.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) President Megawati Sukarnoputri, (b) representatives of the Government of Indonesia, (c) UK-based non-governmental organisations and (d) local non-governmental organisations concerning the extension of the state of martial law in Aceh; and if he will make a statement. [137710]

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Mr. Mike O'Brien: On 6 November the Tokyo Group (EU, Japan, United States and the World Bank), which co-chaired the preparatory Conference on peace and reconstruction in Aceh, issued a statement to the Indonesian Government expressing their concern at the extension of martial law in Aceh. I met the Indonesian ambassador on Monday 10 November and also reiterated our, and the international community's, concerns about the extension of martial law. The UK continues to work through NGOs and the UN to provide assistance to the people of Aceh.

We with our EU partners, continue to urge the Indonesian Government to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, as only political negotiation will offer a long term solution to this ongoing conflict. We stand ready to assist both sides in this process wherever appropriate.

International Terrorism

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are making to prevent links being formed between the Irish Republican Army and other international terrorist and guerrilla organisations. [136766]

Mr. MacShane: UK authorities co-operate with their international partners both bilaterally and through international fora to combat all forms of terrorism.

Iran

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will undertake further joint initiatives with the foreign ministers of France and Germany with regard to relations with Iran. [137639]

Mr. Rammell: We will continue to work with like-minded governments in any combination required to impress on Iran the need to co-operate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to rebuild international confidence in Iran's intentions. Following the visit to Tehran last month by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and his French and German counterparts, the onus now lies on Iran to deliver on its commitments. We are also calling on Iran to address international concerns on human rights, international terrorism and support for the Middle East Peace Process.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the occupying powers are taking to ensure access to safe, legal pregnancy termination services in Iraq; what policy, and direct funding to achieve it, the UK is adopting on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [135435]

Mr. Rammell: Pregnancy termination services are a matter for the Iraqi Ministry of Health. Reproductive health services are available in Iraqi hospitals.

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Israel

Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the building by Israel of the security wall; and what discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on the issue. [137118]

Mr. Rammell: We recognise Israel's legitimate security concerns, and deplore the terrorist suicide bombings of Israeli civilians. We have urged the Palestinian Authority to do more to stop such bombings. But we believe that Israel's building of a wall, or fence, on occupied land is unlawful. We have repeatedly urged the Government of Israel to reconsider the route of the fence. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have raised this issue on a number of occasions with the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean also raised the matter with the Israeli Foreign Minster, Silvan Shalom, during her visit to Israel on 30 September. She also raised with Zvi Shtauber, Israeli Ambassador on 22 October and Yosef Paritzky, the Israeli Minister for National Infrastructure on 29 October.

We have made representations through our Embassy in Tel Aviv expressing concern at the route and likely impact of the fence. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also made representations through the Israeli Embassy in London, most recently on 5 November.

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government about the building of the wall. [137524]

Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary made clear our concerns about the route of the wall, or fence, to the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on a number of occasions. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean also raised the matter with the Israeli Foreign Minster, Silvan Shalom, during her visit to Israel on 30 September. She also raised with Zvi Shtauber, Israeli Ambassador on 22 October and Yosef Paritzky, the Israeli Minister for National Infrastructure on 29 October.

We have made representations through our Embassy in Tel Aviv expressing concern at the route and likely impact of the fence. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have also made representations through the Israeli Embassy in London, most recently on 5 November.

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