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Afghanistan

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made for international supervision and monitoring of the forthcoming elections in Afghanistan. [178039]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Joint Elections Management Body (JEMB), comprised of the Afghan Transitional Administration (ATA) and UN representatives, and chaired by Interior Minister Jalali, is responsible for election preparations. As part of its electoral support plans, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) intends to establish an 'Observation Office' to facilitate national and international election observation. The Office is intended to support information exchange between Afghan and international observers and other interested parties; provide briefing packages for observers; and develop training materials for Afghan observers.

We are currently discussing with EU partners and the European Commission a range of measures to support the elections, including deployment of monitors and advisers. There are also likely to be observer teams from a number of other countries. Work is also in hand to develop domestic monitoring capacity. Afghan civil society organisations involved in this have formed a 'Core Group' to coordinate domestic monitoring activities.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of the reform of the Afghan National Army since 2002. [178054]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The creation of multi-ethnic and accountable armed forces, providing the elected Government with the institutional means to exercise their authority, is one of the key challenges for the Afghan Government and international community in post-conflict Afghanistan. Considerable progress has been made, and the Afghan National Army (ANA) is now about 10,000 strong. In recent months the training of officers and soldiers has been accelerated after the building of further capacity at the military training centre in Kabul and a total of 1,800 additional troops are now able to undergo training at any one time.

International support in this area is led by the United States. UK military forces stationed within the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are providing training and mentoring for Afghan NCOs. In the next few months the ANA will start to establish permanent bases in cities outside Kabul, with the first to be established in Kandahar. This follows successful deployment of ANA battalions in March and April 2004 in response to unrest in the Herat and Faryab regions.

Biological Materials (US Exports)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has collated on US exports of biological materials between February 1985 and November 1990. [177154]

 
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Mr. MacShane: None, other than information published by the United States Administration.

China

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the actions of the Chinese Government in respect of the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. [178583]

Mr. Rammell: We are concerned by reports from Human Rights NGOs that at least 12 dissidents were put under house arrest or surveillance in the run up to this anniversary. Those under house arrest included the leader of the Tiananmen Mothers Group, Ding Zilin.

The UK raised the harassment of dissidents, including those linked to the events in Tiananmen Square, most recently at the May round of our human rights dialogue with China.

Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 26 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Yakubu Kabiz; [177998]

(2) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 26 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to H S Khan. [178945]

Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend's letter refers to documentary evidence at appeal, which is collated by the Immigration Appellate Authority. The letter has been transferred to the Department of Constitutional Affairs as the Department responsible for the Immigration Appellate Authority. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. Lammy) will reply to my right hon. Friend.

Cuba

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to encourage the US Administration to remove its sanctions against Cuba. [178129]

Mr. Rammell: The UK prefers a policy of constructive engagement and dialogue with Cuba, and we make our objections known to US policy every year at the United Nations General Assembly. On 4 November 2003, we again voted to adopt the resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the USA against Cuba.

Guantanamo Bay

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Gordon Prentice) on 26 May 2004, Official Report, column 1634W, on Guantanamo Bay, on how many occasions, and in respect of how many individuals concerns were raised with the US authorities; and on what dates. [179054]

 
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Mr. Mullin: We are not in a position to provide the detailed information requested. This information is withheld under Exemption 12 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The Data Protection Act also prevents us from disclosing personal data on individual cases under Exemption 15 of the Code.

We are very conscious of the importance of seeking to safeguard the welfare of all British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay. Officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in touch with the families of the British detainees, who are advised of the welfare visits by British officials to Guantanamo Bay.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2004, Official Report, column 581W, on Iraq, what the basis is of the Government's understanding that the originators of the intelligence that Iraq sought the supply of uranium from Africa discussed the issue with the International Atomic Energy Agency shortly before the International Atomic Energy Agency Report of 7 March 2003. [178086]

Mr. MacShane: As stated in the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to my hon. Friend, together with subsequent answers given to my hon. Friend on this issue, I am withholding further details of intelligence exchanges with allies under Exemption 1(c) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to whom the Coalition Provisional Authority is accountable. [178397]

Mr. Rammell: The role of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) was recognised and further defined in resolution 1483 of 22 May 2003, and its authority is set out in CPA Regulation No 1, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. Resolution 1483 will continue to operate until 30 June, when the handover of authority to the Iraqi Interim Government will be complete and the CPA will dissolve. Security Council Resolution 1546 of 8 June sets out the transition arrangements for after 30 June.

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to whom the Iraq Survey Group is accountable. [178398]

Mr. MacShane: The Iraq Survey Group forms part of the Joint Task Force Iraq, which reports through the chain of command to General Abizaid and upwards to the US Secretary of State for Defense. The US Director Central Intelligence has overall responsibility for the search for weapons of mass destruction. The British element of the Group has a national link to the Secretary of State for Defence through the Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood and the UK Ministry of Defence.

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Iraq Survey Group to complete its work; and what criteria will be applied when deciding whether the work of the Iraq Survey Group is complete. [178399]

 
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Mr. MacShane: There is no set timetable for Iraq Survey Group activities. The Group will continue its work for as long as appropriate. It is not possible to say when the Iraq Survey Group will have completed its task.

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