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Moldova

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what relationship the Government has with the Government of Moldova; and if he will make a statement. [187043]

Mr. MacShane: The UK enjoys a constructive relationship with Moldova and has a strong interest in its security and development. Since independence, Moldova has achieved progress on promoting human rights and democracy. However, we have concerns in some areas. We have stressed the importance of the parliamentary elections in early 2005 for the Government of Moldova to demonstrate its commitment to the values of democracy, rule of law and human rights.

We remain concerned about the situation in Transnistria, and want to see negotiations on a political settlement brought to an early and successful conclusion. The EU continues to call on the two parties, in particular the Transnistrians, to negotiate constructively and in good faith.

Together with our EU partners we will continue to raise any concerns we have with the Moldovan Government, bilaterally through our embassies in Chisinau, in multilateral fora and through public declarations.

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department is giving to (a) the economic progress of Moldova and (b) the development of democracy there. [187044]

Mr. MacShane: The UK supports economic reform and democratic development in Moldova, including through EU programmes. Moldova is a priority country for the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), launched by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary
 
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in spring 2002 as the Wider Europe initiative. The ENP offers the new neighbours of the enlarged EU greater integration, including deeper trade and economic relations, in return for economic and political reforms.

Our embassy in Chisinau continues to support democratic development and good governance and will support several projects in the run up to elections in early 2005.

In addition to Foreign and Commonwealth Office assistance, the Department for International Development's bilateral programme for Moldova contributed £8.4 million between 2000 and 2003. The planned programme contribution for 2004 is £2.3 million. The UK also supports the IMF, World Bank, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in their efforts to promote economic reform in Moldova.

Since 1991, the EU has provided assistance to Moldova totalling Euros 253 million including technical assistance under the TACIS programme.

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the Russian forces based in Moldova. [187045]

Mr. MacShane: Several groups have raised their concerns about the dispute in Transnistria and the continuing presence of Russian forces in Moldova with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. The Government share these concerns. We want Russia to fulfil commitments made when signing the Adapted Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Summit in Istanbul in 1999. These commitments include the full withdrawal of arms and ammunition from Transnistria, or their destruction in situ, and the withdrawal of Russian forces. Together with NATO allies we have stated that:

"we can envisage ratification of the Adapted CFE Treaty only in the context of full compliance by all State Parties with agreed treaty limits and consistent with the commitments contained in the CFE Final Act".

PFI/PPP

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts his Department had with (a) Barclays Bank, (b) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (c) UBS Warburg and (d) the Bank of Scotland for advice on private finance initiative and public private partnership contracts in each financial year since 2001–02; and what fees were paid in each case. [186658]

Mr. Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has had no contracts with Barclays Bank, the Royal Bank of Scotland, UBS Warburg and the Bank of Scotland for advice on private sector finance initiative and public private finance partnership contracts during the period specified.
 
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Qualified Majority Voting

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the conditions of employment for union staff will be decided by qualified majority voting under the European constitution. [187033]

Mr. MacShane: The staff regulations and conditions of employment for officials of the European institutions are currently decided by qualified majority voting under articles 210, 247(8) and 283 of the treaty establishing the European Community. They will continue to be decided by qualified majority voting under articles III.306 and III.333 of the EU constitutional treaty.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the penalties available to the European Court of Justice will be decided by qualified majority voting under the European Constitution; and whether this represents a change from article 229 TEC. [187034]

Mr. MacShane: Article 229 of the treaty establishing the European Community has been reproduced in essentials in the new constitutional treaty as article III-268. The procedures for determining penalties will therefore remain as now: that is, they will depend on the legal base for the specific legal instrument under consideration.

Serbia

Mr. Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on whether ethnic Albanians are being refused entry to Serbia; and if he will make a statement. [187518]

Mr. MacShane: We are not aware of any reports of the authorities in Serbia and Montenegro refusing to allow ethnic Albanians into the country if they have a valid passport.

Sierra Leone

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political climate in Sierra Leone. [186751]

Mr. Mullin: The UK continues to make a significant political, military and financial investment in Sierra Leone to tackle the root causes of the conflict and to ensure sustainable peace.

Sierra Leone has now enjoyed over two years of peace under a democratically elected government. In May, the first local elections for 32 years took place. In the same month, the Special Court for Sierra Leone started its first trials to bring to justice those who bear the greatest responsibility for war crimes and atrocities committed during the conflict.

Following extensive security sector reforms, UN peacekeepers expect to withdraw by the end of 2005.

US Visa Requirements

Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the US Administration
 
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on the changes requiring UK visitors to obtain a visa in person due to unavailability of biometric data passports; and if he will make a statement. [186422]

Mr. Mullin: We have had regular ministerial and official contacts with the US Administration and members of Congress about maintaining the UK's position within the US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP).

The United States amended its border security legislation on 9 August, extending the deadline by one year to 26 October 2005 for countries in the VWP to introduce a biometric identifier in new passports. The non-availability of biometric passports would have no impact on visa requirements for British passport holders before that date.

The UK's biometric passport programme, on which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working closely under the Home Office's lead, involves the introduction of cutting edge technology. It is important we get this right. Along with other VWP countries, the UK may need to approach the US for a further extension in the new year to allow adequate time for development and testing before UK biometric passports are issued.
 
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Venezuela

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had discussions over the last 36 months with the United States Administration regarding its position on unrest in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement. [186391]

Mr. Rammell: We are in regular contact with the US Administration at all levels and our discussions cover a variety of issues, including Venezuela.

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the British Government offered to Venezuela following the referendum which elected President Chavez in December 1999; and if he will make a statement. [186392]

Mr. Rammell: President Chavez was elected to office in 1998 and re-elected in 2000. A referendum was held in December 1999, to approve a new constitution.

We have consistently supported the democratic and constitutional process in Venezuela, particularly the agreement between the Venezuelan Government and opposition in May 2003, which called for a "peaceful, democratic, electoral and constitutional" outcome in Venezuela.
 
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