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24 May 2004 : Column 1362W—continued
Middle East
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss suspension of the EU/Israeli trade agreement with his partners in the EU. [175041]
Mr. MacShane: The Government do not believe that suspension of the EU/Israel Association Agreement would bring the parties any nearer to a peaceful resolution of their differences.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Israel's compliance with the human rights clauses in the EU/Israeli trade agreement. [175043]
Mr. MacShane: Along with our EU partners, we have followed a policy of constructive engagement with Israel on humanitarian and human rights issues. We have raised our concerns on human rights violations both bilaterally, most recently with Prime Minister Sharon's advisers on 18 May, and through the institutions established by the EU/Israel Association Agreement. In this respect, at the last EU/Israel Association Council in November 2003, the EU called on Israel to abstain from any punitive measures that are not in accordance with international law.
Russian Nuclear Submarines
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the Russian Government on the decommissioning of Russian nuclear submarines; and what estimate has been made of the number of such submarines. [175161]
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Mr. Rammell: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is responsible for the UK's programme of assistance to Russia for the dismantling of nuclear submarines. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the DTI, my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, South (Nigel Griffiths) visited Russia in February, this year to view the progress of the UK programme.
Currently, two Oscar-1 class submarines are being dismantled as part of this programme at a shipyard near Archangel and discussions are underway for further projects. The Russian Government has informed us that there are approximately 60 decommissioned nuclear submarines in North West Russia awaiting dismantling and a further 30 in the Russian Far East.
Co-operation in this area continues to feature in regular bilateral discussions between officials. Further detail on the UK's programme of support for the G8 Global Partnership against weapons and materials of mass destruction can be found in the Department for Trade and Industry's First Annual Report on the Former Soviet Union Nuclear Legacy Programme at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/nuclear/fsu/news/First annual report.pdf.
Sudan
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government voted in favour of Sudan becoming a member of the UN Human Rights Commission; and if he will make a statement. [174595]
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Mr. Rammell [holding answer 20 May 2004]: Sudan's membership of the UN Commission on Human Rights was agreed by the African Group, who put them forward as part of an agreed regional nomination. There was, therefore, no vote on the matter. The Government believe members of the Commission on Human Rights should meet certain minimum standards of behaviour regarding the implementation of human rights in their own countries. We are working with others to identify ways to improve the quality of membership.
UN Civilian Police
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens are serving as civilian police for the UN; what operations they are involved with; where they are stationed; and how many were serving in each of the last seven years. [175188]
Mr. Rammell: A total of 127 UK citizens (serving and retired police officers) are currently serving as civilian police in UN peacekeeping missions. Four are serving in UNMISET (East Timor), 113 in UNMIK (Kosovo) and 10 in UNAMSIL (Sierra Leone).
The following table sets out the average numbers of UK police officers who served in UN missions in each year from 2001–03. This information can also be accessed through the UN peacekeeping website: http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/contributors/)
Figures before April 2001 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
| UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (1999-May 2002) | UN Mission of Support in East Timor (established May 2002) | UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (established 1999) | UN Mission in Sierra Leone (established 1999) | UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995–2002) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 0 | 9 | 116 | 6 | 0 |
| (range 0–10) | (range 79–1 33) | (range 5–10) | |||
| 2002 | 7 | 7 | 158 | 0 | 60 |
| (range 0–15) | (range 0–12) | (range 135–166) | (range 0–76) | ||
| 2001 (Figures from | 14 | 0 | 142 | 0 | 77 |
| April-December only) | (range 13–15) | (range 135–168) | (range 76–80) |
Victor Bout
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has held with the (a) US authorities, (b) French authorities and (c) UN about Victor Bout. [174782]
Mr. Rammell:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has, over many years, had many discussions with
international partners including the US and France, bilaterally and in the United Nations about Victor Bout. The UK has supported international efforts to end Bout's illegal activities. For example, we co-sponsored Security Council Resolution 1521 (2003) on Liberia, which imposed a travel ban on him. UK Ministers have publicly welcomed action taken against his sanctions-busting activities.
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PRIME MINISTER
Correspondence
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter of 19 April from the hon. Member for Richmond Park. [174391]
The Prime Minister: I have replied to the hon. Member today.
India
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Indian Congress Party's electoral win. [174842]
The Prime Minister: I have spoken and written to the new Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, to congratulate him on his appointment. We have strong relations with India and look forward to developing them further with the incoming Government.
Iraq
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 12 May 2004, Official Report, column 385W, on Iraq, what inquiries are made by the Coalition Provisional Authority into methods employed by Coalition forces in gathering information important to the CPA's aim. [174327]
The Prime Minister: None. Under the Geneva Conventions, responsibility for the methods employed by Coalition forces in gathering information lies with the states supplying the military forces concerned.
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will instruct the British representative of the Coalition Provisional Authority to require the Coalition forces to conduct an inquiry into the attack upon Mukaradeeb in western Iraq in which it is reported 40 civilians were killed. [175777]
The Prime Minister: The attack referred to in Mukaradeeb involved US forces. We understand that the US authorities are undertaking a formal investigation.
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will institute a debate in Government time before 30 June, on the situation in Iraq. [175778]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House gave to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) at business questions on 13 May 2004, Official Report, column 473.
Secondments
Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister how many staff in his Office were seconded from the (a) private and (b) academic sector in each of the last three years. [174816]
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The Prime Minister: There were no secondments to my Office from the private or academic sectors in 2001 and 2002. In 2003, one member of staff was seconded to my Office from the academic sector.
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