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Hong Kong

17. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his assessment of the political situation in Hong Kong. [183371]

Mr. Rammell: The political situation in Hong Kong continues to be dominated by the debate about constitutional reform. Over the coming weeks the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is due to continue its consultation of the Hong Kong people and then come forward with proposals for constitutional development. It is important that there should be calm and open dialogue between all sections of Hong Kong opinion, the SAR Government and the central Government in Beijing on these reforms.

Horn of Africa

18. Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in the Horn of Africa. [183372]

Mr. Mullin: Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea are tense. The UK, bilaterally and with European Union partners, will continue to press Ethiopia to accept the Boundary Commission decision, which is final and binding, and to press Eritrea to participate in the comprehensive political dialogue proposed by the Secretary General's Special Envoy.

European Constitution

19. Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the effect of the Constitutional Treaty on trade unions. [183373]

Mr. MacShane: The EU Constitutional Treaty's social and employment policy provisions are largely unaltered when compared to previous treaties. Article I-47 specifically recognises the role of social partners, that is to say the representatives of employers and trade unions, at European Union level, and institutionalises the Tripartite Social Summit. The Government welcome the reaffirmation of the social dimension to the European Union which is why they signed the Social Chapter in 1997.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2004, Official Report, column 429W, on the EU Constitution, if he will list those other areas of government activity which would remain wholly and exclusively the responsibility of the British Government; and where these areas are listed in official documents. [183531]

Mr. MacShane: Article 1–9 of the Constitution makes it clear that competences not conferred upon the Union remain with the member states. The Constitution does not itself provide a list of those areas of government activity because it is a treaty between nation states, the purpose of which is to confer competences on the Union (as Article 1–1 of the Constitution makes clear) and not to list the powers which remain wholly and exclusively the responsibility of member states. All previous EU treaties have been the same in this respect.
 
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Iraq

20. Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the trial of Saddam Hussein. [183374]

Mr. Rammell: Saddam Hussein was brought before an Iraqi investigative judge of the Central Criminal Court of Iraq on 30 June. He faced a range of charges dating back as far as 1974. The investigation process will now begin and proceedings will be transferred to the Iraq Special Tribunal.

Iran

21. Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Iran. [183375]

Mr. Rammell: The UK's relations with Iran are based on a policy of constructive, but critical and conditional, engagement. We aim to support Iranian efforts to reform, while making clear our serious concerns about Iran's policies in areas such as its nuclear programme, the fight on terrorism, human rights and attitude to the Middle East Peace Process.

Guantanamo Bay

22. Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to secure the speedy return of Mr. Feroz Abbasi from Guantanamo Bay; and if he will make a statement on prospects for the return of Mr. Abbasi by early November. [183377]

Mr. Mullin: The Government's discussions with the US authorities about the situation of the remaining four British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay, including Mr. Abbasi, are continuing. It would be artificial to set deadlines for the conclusion of our discussions.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Solicitor-General's oral answer of 1 July 2004, Official Report, column 434, if the UK Government will seek the commencement of proceedings in the US courts in the case of the four UK citizens held without trial in Guantanamo Bay. [182488]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 6 July 2004]: Commencement of such proceedings is a matter for the four British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay and lawyers acting on their behalf.

Saudi Arabia

23. Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts are being made to encourage the development of democracy in Saudi Arabia. [183378]

Mr. Mullin: We are active in encouraging peaceful reform and change in Saudi Arabia, including through discussion with the Saudi Government and have a bilateral programme of activities.

The UK was also instrumental in promoting the recently agreed G8 Plan of Support for the region and in developing a new EU strategy of assistance for change and modernisation throughout the region.
 
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Africa (Great Lakes)

Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the political situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa. [183359]

Mr. Mullin: We remain concerned by the situation in the Great Lakes region. Relations between the DRC and Rwanda remain tense. During my visit to the region in June, I urged all sides to sustain their support for the peace process and to resolve their differences through dialogue and confidence-building measures. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and the Secretary of State for International Development have spoken and written similarly to Presidents Kagame and Kabila.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Article III 157(3) of the proposed European Constitution will apply to Diego Garcia. [183506]

Mr. MacShane: No.

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 25 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Farida Begum; [182462]

(2) when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 25 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Farida Begum. [183688]

Mr. Mullin: I apologise for the delay in replying. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary sent a reply on 8 July.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask UKvisas to reply to the letter dated 26 May from the hon. Member for Aylesbury about Mr. M of Zimbabwe (case reference numbers TH/M4527/001 and M1196661). [183131]

Mr. Mullin: Ukvisas replied to the hon. Member on 8 July. I apologise for the delay.

Corruption Convention

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has (a) to ratify the UN Convention against Corruption and (b) to seek to join the Conference of State Parties; and if he will make a statement. [183440]

Mr. MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Malcolm Bruce) on 27 May 2004, Official Report, column 1761W.
 
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The UK will become a member of the Conference of State Parties automatically once it has ratified the Convention.

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