| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
5 Feb 2004 : Column 1017W—continued
Colombia
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent developments in the terrorist tactics employed by Colombia's revolutionary armed forces, with particular reference to urban terrorism. [148950]
Mr. Rammell: We are concerned that some recent Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) attacks have been carried out in urban areas. FARC activity had hitherto been concentrated primarily in rural areas. We have taken account of these latest developments in our Travel Advice for British nationals visiting Colombia.
5 Feb 2004 : Column 1018W
We condemn the terrorist activities of all illegal armed groups in Colombia. We support the Colombian Government in the fight against terrorism and in its efforts to seek a negotiated solution to Colombia's prolonged internal conflict.
Diego Garcia
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the study considering the feasibility of repopulating the atolls around the Diego Garcia; what representations the Government have made to the US authorities to allow some Illois to visit the islands around Diego Garcia; what steps the Government are taking to ensure that vessels chartered for such visits are made available; and if he will make a statement. [152540]
Mr. Rammell: A study by independent experts into the feasibility of resettlement of the Chagos islands was commissioned in April 2000. The report on the first phase of the study was completed in June 2000 and the report on the second phase, which incorporated findings from the first, was completed in June 2002. Copies of these reports are in the Library of the House. The study concluded that short-term habitation for limited numbers would be possible but only on a subsistence basis while any long-term settlement would be precarious, and costly. No final decisions have been taken on any further phase of this feasibility study.
We have twice put in hand preparations to arrange a visit by the Chagossians to the islands around Diego Garcia, but these fell through for reasons beyond our control. We remain in contact with the US authorities on the re-instatement of a visit once the situation permits and provided that suitable arrangements can be made, including the charter of a suitable vessel.
Iraq
Mr. Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any British companies bidding for reconstruction work in Iraq have been blacklisted under the United States Iran-Libya Sanctions Act 1996. [152089]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: No sanctions have been imposed against any UK companies under the United States Iran-Libya Sanctions Act 1996.
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence has been found by the Iraq Survey Group of the destruction of the material and equipment dedicated to weapons of mass destruction listed under the clusters of unresolved disarmament issues published at pages 19 to 133 of his Department's White Paper 'Iraq: UN Documents', Cm 5785. [152316]
Mr. MacShane: The Iraq Survey Group has found no clear evidence to support Iraqi claims that it unilaterally destroyed any such material or equipment.
Security Passes
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months. [151567]
5 Feb 2004 : Column 1019W
Mr. Rammell: Over the last 12 months the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has had 33 passes lost and 12 passes reported as stolen.
Surplus Nuclear Materials
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place in the G8 ad hoc group on the disposition of surplus military nuclear materials on the forthcoming shipment to France from the United States of surplus weapons plutonium in France; and whether the United Kingdom has (a) been asked to and (b) offered to participate in this programme. [150831]
Mr. MacShane: The forthcoming shipment was noted at the last G8 ad hoc group on plutonium disposition on 4 December 2003. As part of its commitment to co-operative threat reduction, the UK has committed £70 million towards multilateral efforts to secure the disposition of surplus weapons-grade plutonium in Russia. This follows a US-Russia agreement to each dispose of 34 tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium. The forthcoming shipment contributes to these efforts.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Cambridgeshire Schools
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what meetings the Minister of State for School Standards has held since 1 December 2003 with (a) the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) and (b) the opposition group leader on Cambridgeshire county council to discuss budgetary problems in Cambridgeshire schools. [150836]
Mr. Miliband: I have met the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mrs. Campbell) and the opposition group leader on Cambridgeshire county council and separately the head of the council and his senior staff on one occasion since 1 December to discuss school funding.
Excellence Challenge Funding
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in each local education authority area received Excellence Challenge funding in the current financial year; and what the total funding made available in the current financial year under the programme was in each local education authority area. [145432]
Alan Johnson: The Excellence Challenge programme is now known as "Aimhigher". The answer is given in the table. The figures in column 3 include funding for schools, sixth form colleges and further education colleges within each LEA area.
5 Feb 2004 : Column 1021W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |