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Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 3 August 2004, Official Report, column 683W, on Iraq, whether hon. Members other than Ministers had an input into the preparation of the September 2002 Dossier, Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction. [188758]

Mr. MacShane: As I made clear in my answer on 3 August (published on 1 September 2004, Official Report, column 683W), the Joint Intelligence Committee was responsible for producing the dossier. The final draft was made available for information to members of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was informed that post-war validation had raised serious doubts about the reliability of reporting from the sub-source referred to in paragraph 403 of the Butler Report. [189278]

Mr. Straw [holding answer 16 September 2004]: These matters have been examined exhaustively in the course of the Butler review and other inquiries. All relevant information has been placed in the public domain insofar as that could be done without prejudicing national security.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 September 2004, Official Report, columns 683–4W, on Iraq, when the translation of Iraq's declaration of the status of its programmes of weapons of mass destruction was completed; and if he will place a copy of the translation in the Library. [189288]

Mr. MacShane [holding answer 16 September 2004]: Translation of the text of the declaration, of which 648 pages were in Arabic, was completed on 20 December 2002.

The supporting documentation (much of which consisted of purchase orders and invoices) were reviewed, summarised and assessed over the ensuing weeks, and this work had been completed by 19 March 2003.

The declaration remains a confidential document of the United Nations, and I cannot, therefore, place a copy in the Library of the House.
 
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Islamic Organisations

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with prominent Islamic organisations in the UK. [189136]

Mr. Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and FCO Ministers regularly meet a wide range of Muslim organisations, both nationally and locally, as Ministers travel to the regions regularly to meet grassroots organisations. Some of the national organisations include the Muslim Council of Britain, Islamic Society of Britain, Islamic Forum Europe and Union of Muslim Students, among others.

The topics of discussion include a wide range of foreign policy issues of interest to the Muslim community.

Israel

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has reviewed on the (a) development and (b) use of (i) biological and (ii) chemical weapons and agents by Israel. [189295]

Mr. MacShane [holding answer 16 September 2004]: We are aware of no credible evidence of development or use of chemical or biological weapons or agents by the State of Israel. Israel has signed, but not ratified, the Chemical Weapons Convention and has neither signed nor ratified the Biological and toxin Weapons Convention. It therefore has no legal obligation not to develop these weapons, and nor is it subject to any international monitoring.

Krishna Maharaj

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information has been made available to the Consular Service, in relation to Krishna Maharaj, on the failures to investigate Adam Hosein and Jamie Majais for possible involvement in the murders of Duane and Derrick Moo Young. [189137]

Mr. Mullin: These are a matter for Mr. Maharaj's legal team. The Government remain in close contact with Mr. Maharaj's lawyers who update us on developments in the case and on various avenues they are pursuing.

Maldives

Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) political situation in the Maldives and (b) arrest of Members of Parliament. [189299]

Mr. Alexander: We have welcomed recent moves towards further democratic reform in the Maldives, in particular the proposals in President Gayoom's speech of 9 June. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to the President in July to express our support for many of his proposals and to encourage him to ensure that a free and open debate on reform in the Maldives is allowed. We are concerned at the continuing detention of many of those arrested following the pro-reform
 
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demonstrations on 12 and 13 August, including members of the Special Majlis, and have urged the Government to repeal the state of emergency, restore all fundamental rights to the detainees, and reconvene the Special Majlis.

Middle East

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Syrian policy towards terrorism in the Middle East; and what representations he has made to the Syrian Government about the presence of Hamas in Syria. [188813]

Mr. MacShane: We have continuing concerns about Syrian support for Palestinian terrorist organisations and judge that Syria can do more to constrain their activities. While office closures are welcome, Syria should more tightly control the activities, including the travel and contacts with the Occupied Territories, of known Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other leaders. We have repeatedly made our views known to the Syrian authorities.

Muslims (Human Rights Abuses)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made regarding abuses of human rights against Muslims who choose to convert to another faith; and if he will make a statement. [189301]

Mr. Rammell: The Government condemn instances where individuals are persecuted because of their faith or belief, wherever these happen and whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned. We are concerned about the plight of apostates throughout the world including those Muslims who are punished for choosing to convert to another faith. Both bilaterally and with our EU partners we regularly raise specific cases of religious persecution with the Governments concerned. Over the past year we have formally raised the treatment of religious minorities with both the Pakistani and Bangladesh Governments. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Panel on Religious Freedom, which brings together representatives from all of the faith communities in the UK, has also discussed the issue of apostasy.

Non-EU Countries (Governmental Visits)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from which non-EU countries' governments inward visits to the UK are planned in the next three months. [189305]

Mr. Rammell: The President of Korea Mr. Roh Moo-hyun accompanied by Mrs. Roh Moo-hyun will pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom in December.

Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India arrived in the United Kingdom on 15 September for a two-day visit as a Guest of Her Majesty's Government. No other non-EU Guest of Government visits are planned within the next three months.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also sponsors visits which enable influential individuals, e.g. Parliamentarians, and public servants to carry out a
 
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working programme in their area of expertise. The full programme of visits for the next three months is not yet fixed but is expected to include visitors from China, Nigeria, Taiwan, Argentina, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Gambia, Afghanistan, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria and other Middle Eastern countries, South Africa, Sudan, Japan, India, Zambia, Russia, Pakistan, Bolivia, Uruguay, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Mauritius, Ghana, Tanzania, USA, Peru and Philippines.

Nordic Countries

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bilateral meetings are planned between the UK and the Nordic countries. [189241]

Mr. MacShane: Frequent bilateral meetings of Ministers, officials and parliamentarians take place between the United Kingdom and the Nordic countries on an ongoing basis. There is also frequent contact in the context of EU, NATO, UN and other multilateral meetings.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral relations with (a) Iceland, (b) Denmark, (c) Norway, (d) Sweden, (e) Finland and (f) the Faroe Islands. [189242]

Mr. MacShane: Bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the Nordic countries are excellent. Strong working relationships exist variously in the EU, NATO, UN and a wide range of international organisations. We co-operate closely on issues such as the environment, international development, human rights and peacekeeping. The UK has a healthy trading relationship with these countries. There are regular official and ministerial contacts and all party parliamentary groups have well-established links with the respective Parliaments. Further information about the relationship with individual Nordic countries can be found in the country profiles section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk and web pages of each of our embassies.

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