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Departmental Administration Budget

Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards the 5 per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 331. [176512]

Mr. Rammell: The real terms reduction of 5 per cent. or more will be a central feature of the public spending settlements for 2006–08 to be announced in detail later this year.

Departmental Secondments

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department and its agencies were seconded from the (a) private and (b) academic sector in each of the last three years. [174819]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The number of private sector secondees working in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its agencies in each of the last three years was as follows:

	Number
2001–02	123
2002–03	87
2003–04	72

The majority of the secondees were brought in as business experts to work in UK Trade and Investment. They help UK companies develop their business overseas, and overseas companies invest in the UK.

The FCO has not seconded any staff from the academic sector in the last three years.

European Constitution

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the articles in the draft European Constitution where decision-making by qualified majority vote replaces unanimity in the existing treaties. [176568]

Mr. MacShane: The scope of qualified majority vote in the draft constitutional treaty is currently under negotiation. It was most recently discussed by Foreign
 
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Ministers on 17/18 May in Brussels on the basis of the Irish presidency proposals set out in document CIG 75/04 (placed in the Library of the House on 24 May 2004 and available on the presidency website: www.eu2004.ie). As we made clear in our White Paper (Cm 5934) presented to the House on 9 September 2003, we will insist that unanimity remain for treaty change and other areas of vital national interest such as tax, social security, defence, key aspects of criminal procedural law and the system of own resources. Once a final text is agreed, the Government will publish a comprehensive comparison of the existing treaties and the new constitutional treaty.

Export Promotion

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the percentage of staff time devoted to promoting UK exports by (a) UK embassies in general and (b) the UK embassy in Saudi Arabia. [176413]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We estimate that around a quarter of staff time at British Missions overseas is devoted to trade development and investment work, which includes trade development activity. The estimated figure for Saudi Arabia is around 15 per cent.

Falkland Islands

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the amount of support from public funds to the Falkland Islanders in each of the last 10 years. [175206]

Mr. Rammell: The Falkland Islands are now economically self-sufficient in all areas, except defence. The economy of the Falkland Islands has grown rapidly since 1982 and the Falkland Islands Government continue to look to ensure that the economy remains diverse and sustainable for the future.

The Ministry of Defence retains responsibility for defence of the Falkland Islands while the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers some programme assistance towards small-scale projects. Examples of FCO funding towards such projects for the Financial Year 2003–04 were £64,800 towards good governance, £45,000 to assist with economic diversification projects and £48,000 towards environmental projects.

Given that many Government Departments have provided financial support to the Falkland Islands over the past 10 years, to provide the information requested would incur disproportionate costs.

Gibraltar

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he was able to resolve the issue of passenger cruise ships being barred from Spanish ports following visits to Gibraltar during his recent meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister. [175565]

Mr. Straw [holding answer 25 May 2004]: I told Senor Moratinos on 20 May that we regarded Spanish interference as unacceptable and illegal. I can report that since then there have been no incidents that have come to HMG's attention. I have written to him to
 
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underline the need to avoid any repetition of these actions. We continue to seek a permanent solution to this issue, and have asked the Commission to look into these incidents.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government will take to secure compensation for the effects on Gibraltar of Spain's interference in free movement of cruise ships; and if he will make a statement. [175573]

Mr. MacShane [holding answer 27 May 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) today (UIN 175584).

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2004, Official Report, column 675W, on Gibraltar, if he will make a statement on the meeting held with Spanish officials regarding cruise liners being blocked from entering Spanish ports after calling at Gibraltar. [175583]

Mr. MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the right hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) today (UIN 175565).

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2004, Official Report, column 675W, on Gibraltar, whether compensation will be paid to shopkeepers in Gibraltar affected by cruise liners missing scheduled stops in Gibraltar. [175584]

Mr. MacShane: Our Permanent Representation to the EU has asked the Commission to look into this issue. Any decision to seek compensation would be a matter for the individuals concerned.

Gmice

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2004, Official Report, column 1574W, whether Gmice is a predominantly (a) Albanian and (b) Serb village; and when it was last visited by a United Kingdom representative. [176696]

Mr. MacShane: Gmice is a predominantly Albanian village. There is no record of it having been visited recently by a UK representative but there are plans for a visit in the near future.

International Criminal Court

Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Government intend to vote on the UN Security Council resolution 1487, moved by the United States, relating to the renewal of the mandate of the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement. [176433]

Mr. Rammell: UN Security Council resolutions 1487 (2003) and 1422 (2002) provided a 12-month exemption from ICC investigation for UN peacekeepers who are citizens of states which are not parties to the ICC Statute. Both resolutions are consistent with the ICC Statute.
 
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Although we understand US concerns about the ICC and their reasons for wanting the resolution rolled-over for a further 12 months, we do not share them. However, we recognise that those concerns are still firmly held by the US with possibly serious implications for UN Security Council-mandated operations. The Government attach the utmost importance to maintaining the effectiveness and efficiency of United Nations peacekeeping operations. They are therefore ready to support a roll-over of UNSCR 1487 while urging the US to recognise that a further resolution next year will not be necessary.

The UK is firmly committed to the ICC. We are one of the court's strongest supporters. We continue to work for an effective court and to encourage other states to become parties to it.

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