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Iceland

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Iceland during the last year; and for what reasons. [191568]

Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not held discussions with the Government of Iceland in the last year. However, I visited Iceland on 21–22 July to discuss with the then Foreign and Industry Ministers a range of issues relating to Iceland's relationship with the European Union. My hon. Friend the Fisheries Minister (Mr. Bradshaw) visited on 10–12 August to discuss fisheries management issues. Senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry
 
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of Defence officials visited Iceland in June for annual bilateral consultations and the British ambassador in Iceland enjoys regular high level discussions with all levels of the Icelandic Government.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral statement on Iraq of 12 October 2004, Official Report, columns 151–55, on what date the intelligence relating to the claim that chemical and biological weapons could be deployed within 45 minutes was officially withdrawn. [191667]

Mr. Straw: I was informed that the lines of intelligence reporting to which I referred to in my Statement to the House of 12 October 2004, Official Report, column 152, had been formally withdrawn on 7 October.

I informed Parliament at the earliest opportunity I could. I was in Luxembourg on EU business on 11 October.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the sites in Iraq identified by British intelligence as a facility involved in weapons of mass destruction that were passed on to the Iraq Survey Group; and if he will identify the source of the intelligence in each case. [190760]

Mr. Straw: The Iraq Survey Group (ISG) worked from its own lists of sites, and sought comments from the UK Government. The Government expressed a view as to which they considered to be the priority sites for exploitation. The ISG Report acknowledges the support they received from SIS and the Defence Intelligence Staff.

Beyond what is published in the ISG Report, I am withholding further details of the assistance provided under exemption l(a) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Ms Nina Jones

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Police Force in Prague and (b) Interpol following the disappearance of Ms Nina Jones of Kingsbridge, Devon; and if he will make a statement. [190289]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 14 October 2004]: Ms Nina Jones went missing in Prague on 28 March. Her details were given to Interpol in London who passed a search request to their counterparts in Prague. The Czech Police conducted exhaustive inquiries with hospitals, morgues and local language schools across the Czech Republic.

Our Consular staff are in regular contact with Interpol Prague who liaise closely with the Czech Police. Ms Jones's details, including recent photographs, are stored on a central database with the municipal, border and regular Czech Police and are flagged for immediate attention should she be found. In August Consular staff asked Interpol to provide an update on their
 
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investigations and that a further check be carried out of both local and psychiatric hospitals. Unfortunately, there is still no trace of Ms Jones.

Consular staff are helping the family to distribute missing persons leaflets through our embassy in Prague. We will continue to offer the family consular assistance and liaise with the relevant authorities to help identify Ms Jones's whereabouts.

Nordic Countries

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which Nordic countries the United Kingdom is in discussion over (a) co-operation and (b) bilateral meetings. [191511]

Mr. MacShane: The United Kingdom is in ongoing and regular contact with all five Nordic countries at all levels and on a wide range of issues. Our Embassies, in close liaison with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other government departments, are the front line for day-to-day contact. A good deal of formal co-operation between the United Kingdom and the three EU Nordic members, and three NATO Nordic members takes place in the context of those organisations, and also in the United Nations, its specialised agencies and other multilateral fora. In addition, a number of formal agreements with Iceland and Norway are negotiated through the European Union on behalf of all member states. Details can be found on the website of the European Commission: www.europa.eu.int.

The United Kingdom is currently negotiating a bilateral Framework Treaty on Oil and Gas with Norway. The UK also enters into a number of other routine agreements with the Nordic countries. These include for example Memoranda of Understanding governing the relationships between our troops where they serve together overseas.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bi-lateral agreements the UK Government (a) has and (b) has had in the last 30 years with Nordic countries. [191586]

Mr. MacShane: The United Kingdom is currently negotiating a bilateral Framework Treaty on Oil and Gas with Norway. The UK also enters into a number of other routine agreements with the Nordic countries. These include for example memoranda of understanding governing the relationships between our troops where they serve together overseas.

A note on bilateral agreements over the last 30 years has been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Norway. [191513]

Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no immediate plans to visit Norway. Other Ministers have visited in recent months and the next scheduled visit is by my hon. Friend the Fisheries Minister (Mr. Bradshaw) on 8–9 November. The Foreign Secretary and I have had several contacts with our Norwegian counterparts in various international fora during the past year. The British ambassador in Norway is also in regular contact with the Foreign
 
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Minister and other Norwegian Ministers. We look forward to welcoming Foreign Minister Petersen to London before the end of the year.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Norwegian counterpart during the past year. [191543]

Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have had several contacts with our Norwegian counterparts in various international fora during the past year. The British ambassador in Norway is also in regular contact with the Foreign Minister and other Norwegian Ministers. Other Ministers have also visited in recent months.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to launch bi-lateral agreements with Nordic countries. [191567]

Mr. MacShane: The United Kingdom is currently negotiating a bilateral Framework Treaty on Oil and Gas with Norway. The UK also enters into a number of other routine agreements with the Nordic countries. These include for example Memoranda of understanding governing the relationships between our troops where they serve together overseas.

The United Kingdom is in ongoing and regular contact with all five Nordic countries at all levels and on a wide range of issues. Our embassies, in close liaison with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other Government Departments, are the front line for day-to-day contact.

Official Visits

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for official visits to the UK by the Government of (a) Iceland, (b) Norway and (c) Denmark. [191585]

Mr. MacShane: We are currently exploring opportunities for official visits to the United Kingdom by the new Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Iceland. The Norwegian Ministers for local government and modernisation visited the UK on 14–15 October, and others, including the Foreign Minister, will be visiting later in the year. The Danish Defence Minister will visit the UK on 19–21 October.

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