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Regimental Records

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the search records of (a) the 7th City of Belfast battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment, (b) the 10th City of Belfast battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment, (c) the 3rd County Down battalion of the

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Ulster Defence Regiment and (d) the regular military units operating in their tactical area of responsibility are still held. [162687]

Mr. Ingram: The search records of all military units in Northern Ireland are held in the Northern Ireland Search Report Archive and reports of any searches which did not produce a find are routinely destroyed after six years when the statute of limitation for claims runs out. Records of productive searches may be held indefinitely in the archives, therefore it is possible that some search reports dating prior to 1992, when the Ulster Defence Regiment disbanded, would still be held.

Heroes Return Scheme

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department is providing for the celebration of Heroes Return outside London. [158700]

Mr. Caplin: The New Opportunity Fund's 'Heroes Return' scheme, which forms part of the 'Veterans Reunited' programme, focuses on overseas visits for veterans, their spouses or widows and their carers. 'Heroes Return' will enable Second World War veterans resident in the United Kingdom, whether inside or outside London, to make overseas visits to commemorate the campaigns in which they participated.

Unexploded Ordnance

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total amount of ordnance destroyed in the UK by controlled explosions was in the last five years; and what sorts of ordnance were involved. [161868]

Mr. Ingram: During the period April 1999 to February 2004 the Ministry of Defence has arranged for the demilitarisation by incineration, open burning and open detonation of 11,492 tonnes (all up weight) of conventional munitions ranging from Small Arms Ammunition to Guided Weapons.

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the life expectancy is of (a) Swingfire, (b) Milan and (c) artillery shells in war stocks; and what the policy of removal is. [161870]

Mr. Ingram: The life of a munition is constantly under consideration and work is ongoing while in-service to ensure the nature remains safe and suitable for use. When missiles reach the end of their in-service life they are disposed of either through being used for training purposes, or if that is not possible through a demilitarisation programme. At present both Swingfire and Milan missiles have an in-service life of 17 years.

Artillery shells are maintained to the required level of safety and in sufficient quantities to meet operational requirements. It is preferred to utilise artillery shells for training purposes rather than opting for disposal, thereby maximising their usefulness. Typically, the in service life of an Artillery Shell is a minimum of 10 years.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what joint programmes with other countries have been undertaken on (a) research and (b) building of unmanned aerial vehicles. [158511]

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Mr. Ingram: The UK is involved in 28 international research collaboration for a covering technology relevant to unmanned aerial vehicles. None of these are specific to UAVs. The UK has not undertaken any joint programmes with other countries on building UAVs.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Conferences

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many non-ministerial staff in his Department have attended conferences (a) in the UK and (b) abroad in the year to 29 February; and what the cost of attending these conferences was, broken down by (i) travel costs, (ii) food and drink, (iii) accommodation and (iv) miscellaneous costs. [160799]

Mr. Straw [holding answer 18 March 2004]: The information required for this answer is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

East Africa

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose action to the UN Security Council to resolve the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea. [162904]

Mr. Mullin: The UK, and other members of the Security Council, will continue to press Ethiopia and Eritrea to accept the Boundary Commission decision, which is final and binding, and begin a comprehensive political dialogue on all of the issues separating them. We have welcomed the appointment of the UN Special Envoy, Lloyd Axworthy, and are urging both parties to work with him on resolving their differences.

EU Enlargement

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on EU enlargement; and if he will make a statement. [162300]

Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary often raises EU enlargement in his bilateral and other meetings with European counterparts and he regularly reaffirms the Government's support for enlargement.

European Council of Ministers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many informal meetings of the European Council of Ministers took place (a) between 1 July and 31 December 2003 and (b) since 1 January; when these meetings took place; what topics were discussed at these meetings; what informal meetings are planned until 30 June; and if he will make a statement; [159337]

(2) how many informal meetings of the European Council of Ministers took place (a) between 1 January and 30 June 2002, (b) 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2002, (c) 1 January and 30 June 2003 and (d) 1 July and 31 December 2003; when these meetings took place; what issues were discussed at each of these meetings; which members of the Scottish Executive were present at each meeting; and if he will make a statement. [159338]

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Mr. MacShane: Recent Presidencies have defined informal ministerial meetings differently in their official Presidency websites. The following list sets out those informal ministerial meetings which met to transact substantive business.

The Spanish Presidency between 1 January and 30 June 2002 held 10 informal ministerial meetings, on the following dates and covering the following topics:

25–26 January on Employment;

9–10 February on Foreign Affairs (Gymnich Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs);

14–15 February on Justice and Home Affairs;

22–23 February on Telecoms and the Information Society;

23–24 March on Defence;

13–14 April on Finance (ECOFIN);

27–30 April on Agriculture and Fisheries;

3–4 May on Tourism;

24–26 May on Environment issues;

31 May to 1 June on Transport.

The Danish Presidency between 1 July and 31 December 2002 held eight informal ministerial meetings on the following dates and covering the following topics:

12–13 July on Employment and Social Policy;

19–21 July on Environment issues;

1 September on Foreign Affairs (Gymnich Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs);

6–8 September on Finance (informal ECOFIN);

8–10 September on Agriculture and Fisheries;

12–13 September on Justice and Home Affairs;

4–5 October on Defence;

18–19 October on the Internal Market. Consumer Affairs and Industry.

The Greek Presidency between 1 January and 30 June 2003 held 13 informal ministerial meetings, on the following dates and covering the following topics:

24 January on Employment;

22 February on Energy;

1–2 March on Education;

14–15 March on Defence;

28–29 March on Justice and Home Affairs;

4–6 April on Finance (informal ECOFIN Council);

2–4 May on Environment;

12–13 May on Agriculture and Fisheries;

16–17 May on Regional Policy;

16–18 May on Transport and Merchant Marine;

24 May on Culture;

6 June on Public Administration;

12–13 June on Development Co-operation.

The Italian Presidency between 1 July and 31 December 2003 held 18 informal ministerial meetings on the following topics:

4–5 July on Transport and Infrastructure;

6 July on Trade;

10–12 July on Employment and Social Policies;

11–12 July on Competitiveness;

18–20 July on Environment and Energy;

3–5 September on Telecommunications;

5–6 September on General Affairs and External Relations;

5–6 September on Health;

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12–13 September on Justice and Home Affairs;

12–13 September on Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN);

20–23 September on Agriculture;

1–2 October on Culture;

3–4 October on Defence;

20 October on Regional Policy;

24 October on Development Co-operation;

21 November on Consumer Policies;

1 December on Civil Service;

2 December on Trade.

The Irish Presidency up to 8 March 2004 has held two informal ministerial meetings, on the following dates and covering the following topics:

16–17 January on Employment and Social Policy;

22–23 January on Justice and Home Affairs.

13–14 April on Finance (ECOFIN);

27–30 April on Agriculture and Fisheries;

3–4 May on Tourism;

24–26 May on Environment issues;

31 May to 1 June on Transport.

The Irish Presidency intends to hold five further informal ministerial meetings, on the following dates and covering the following topics:

2–3 April on Economics and Finance (ECOFIN);

5–6 April on Defence;

16–17 April on Foreign Affairs (Gymnich);

9–10 May on Agriculture;

14–15 May on Environment.

The Scottish First Minister, right hon. Jack McConnell, attended the Informal Council on Regional Policy on 20 October 2003. Ministers from each Devolved Administration attend formal Councils of particular interest to that Devolved Administration.

I have written to the hon. Member on this issue and have placed a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

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