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26 May 2004 : Column 1639W—continued

International Cricket

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the International Cricket Council regarding the rules operated by the ICC in respect of cricket tour cancellations. [175486]

Mr. Mullin: There have been no such discussions.

Israel

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the report by Amnesty International, "Israel and the Occupied Territories—Under the rubble: House demolition and destruction of land and property", published on 18 May. [175287]

Mr. Straw: We share Amnesty International's concerns about deteriorating housing conditions in the Occupied Territories and the wider human rights and humanitarian consequences of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In a press statement on 17 May I expressed my concern at the demolition of Palestinian homes in Rafah. These actions are contrary to Israel's commitments under the roadmap and are unacceptable. And on 19 May, I expressed my profound concern about the deaths of Palestinian civilians demonstrating against house demolitions. Copies of both my statements are available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases. Demolitions are provocative, exacerbate tension and undermine ongoing efforts to bring about an end to violence and a return to negotiations. Israel must act within international law and refrain from using excessive force and taking actions which amount to collective punishment. The UK voted for UNSCR 1544 which condemned Israel's actions on 19 May 2004.

Kenya

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has
 
26 May 2004 : Column 1640W
 
held with the new Kenyan Government since the general election in Kenya in December 2002; and what issues were discussed. [175168]

Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the Kenyan Foreign Minister, Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka in February 2003. Issues discussed were the priorities for the new Kenyan government, Iraq, Zimbabwe and terrorism.

On 29 April 2004, I met the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Kiraitu Murungi, to discuss Constitutional and other reforms, including anti-corruption, and Julie Ward. In June 2003 I met the then Vice-President, Michael Wamalawa, and in October 2003, Foreign Minister Musyoka and a delegation of Kenyan Ministers. In October 2003 I visited Kenya, meeting President Mwai Kibaki and members of his government.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I met President Kibaki on 9 October 2003.

Victor Bout

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the freezing of assets owned by Mr. Victor Bout; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the UK removing Mr. Bout's name from a list of individuals to be targeted by United Nations sanctions. [175566]

Mr. Straw [holding answer 25 May 2004]: The UK has consistently supported international efforts to end Victor Bout's illegal activities, and UK Ministers have publicly welcomed action taken against his sanctions-busting activities. Our commitment to dealing with arms traffickers/sanctions busters is second to none, and a matter of public record.

I am unable to comment on specific nominations under discussion in the United Nations Security Council for the asset freeze imposed by UNSCR 1532. To do so would risk capital flight.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations the Department has carried out into the activities of Victor Bout. [174769]

Mr. Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not have investigative authority/powers. We pass any information we receive concerning alleged breaches of arms embargoes and sanctions regimes to the appropriate investigative authorities.

FCO Ministers have publicly stated our position on Victor Bout and his sanctions-busting activities. On 7 November 2000 my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State at the FCO said in the House that Victor Bout is "the chief sanctions buster, and is a merchant of death . . . " Official Report, column 156. On 2 May 2002, my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the FCO said in the House, "I hope that . . . increased international pressure on Bout will finally result in the end of his sanctions-busting activities and that he will be brought to justice. The UK has played a leading role in drawing international attention to Bout's illegal activities . . . " Official Report, column 929W.
 
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Qualified Majority Voting

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions when the UK has been outvoted when Qualified Majority Voting in the European Council has applied in every year since 1992, stating in each case the issue concerned; and if he will make a statement. [175286]

Mr. Straw: The European Council does not take decisions by Qualified Majority Voting (QMV), but agrees Presidency conclusions by consensus. The Council of Ministers does take decisions by QMV on legislation where the legal base so provides. Since January 2001, details of voting in the Council of Ministers have been published by the Council Secretariat in its monthly summaries of Council acts. These can be accessed on the Council's internet site at: http://ue.eu.int/cms3   applications/showPage.asp?id=551&lang=:en&mode=g.

Sudan

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between the UK Government and the Government of Sudan regarding reports of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region of Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [175905]

Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Ladywood (Clare Short) on 25 May 2004 (UIN 175841).

Travel Costs

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the travel costs incurred (a) by his Department and (b) by each Minister within his Department, for each of the last 10 years. [175645]

Mr. Straw: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's answer on 16 July 2003 Official Report, column 328W. A figure for the financial year 2003–2004 will be published as soon as possible.

In addition, since 1999 the Government has published an annual list of all visits undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Details for the financial year 2003–2004 will be published as soon as possible. Copies of these lists can be found in the Library of the House.

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq

Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 12 May, Official Report, column 385W, on Iraq, whether the employment of civilian contractors and interpreters in Abu Ghraib prison was (a) known to and (b) sanctioned by the Coalition Provisional Authority. [174329]

The Prime Minister: The employment of civilian contractors and interpreters in Abu Ghraib prison is a matter for the US authorities.
 
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Ministerial Visits

David Davis: To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the travel costs incurred by his Office for each of the last 10 years; [175657]

(2) how much his Office spent on ministerial travel by (a) car, (b) train, (c) aeroplane and (d) helicopter, in each of the last 10 years. [175660]

The Prime Minister: For travel costs prior to 2002, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) gave to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) on 13 November 2003, Official Report, columns 397–398W.

For information for 2002–03, I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Plaskitt) on 16 July 2003, Official Report, columns 327–328W.

Travel costs for 2003–04 are currently being collated and will be published in the normal way before the summer recess. Copies for previous years are available in the Library of the House.

I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements. My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, "Travel by Ministers".

David Davis: To ask the Prime Minister how many journeys he made by helicopter in each of the last 10 years; and what the journey length was in each case. [175739]

The Prime Minister: On average, I have made around twenty trips by helicopter in each year since May 1997, all of varying length.

I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements. My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, "Travel by Ministers".

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