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Drug Trafficking

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK has taken to reduce international drug trafficking. [191808]

Mr. Rammell: The Government view the reduction of international drug trafficking as an integral part of its national drug strategy. Operational activity overseas includes the deployment of over 50 Drug Liaison Officers working closely with governments and law enforcement agencies. Between April 2002 and March 2003, HM Customs and Excise seized 9.3 tonnes of cocaine and 9.4 tonnes of heroin destined for the UK.

In addition to law enforcement co-operation overseas, the UK has an ongoing programme of bilateral and multilateral assistance to help increase counter-narcotics capacity and expertise. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Drugs and Crime Fund is one of the mechanisms for supporting overseas capacity building and is currently funding a wide range of projects in Latin America, the Caribbean, South Asia, Central Asia, Africa and Europe. The UK is also the lead international nation providing assistance to the Government of Afghanistan's effort to eradicate opium cultivation. The UK has committed £70 million over three years to assistance on counter narcotics in Afghanistan.

EU Arms Exports (Code of Conduct)

Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Union Code of Conduct on Arms Exports. [190572]

Mr. MacShane: The European Union Code of Conduct on Arms Exports was agreed in June 1998, during the UK Presidency of the EU. It sets out common criteria by which all EU member states must assess licence applications for the export of military equipment.

The Code is recognised as the most effective regional standard in the area of strategic export controls. It has contributed significantly to the increase in the levels of transparency and responsibility in the arms export control policies of EU member states. In addition, a number of countries outside the EU have subscribed to the principles of the Code.
 
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The Code of Conduct is currently undergoing a review, at the instigation of the United Kingdom. The Government would wish to see changes to the Code include its extension to cover brokering and intangible technology transfers, as well as considerations for the export of items to be used for the overseas licensed production of military equipment.

EU Enlargement

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on free movement within the European Union of the recent enlargement; and if he will make a statement. [191547]

Mr. MacShane: There are four freedoms associated with the EU; free movement of goods, services, capital and labour.

With regard to the free movement of goods, services and capital, the impact of enlarging the single market will be felt for many years to come; through increasing trade, job creation and economic growth. There has not been any in depth assessment made as yet. But based on previous enlargements, we expect prosperity to grow both in the new and old member states alike. When Spain and Sweden joined, our exports to them went up by a quarter. When Finland joined, they went up by a third. We estimate that this current enlargement will create 300,000 new jobs across the present EU and give UK GDP a boost of £1.75 billion.

With regard to free movement of labour, the initial monitoring results from the Workers Registration Scheme show a positive impact on the UK economy. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary made clear when addressing the House on 26 April, we kept the commitments we made during the passage of the Accession Bill, namely not to take up the derogation restricting the free movement of workers in the Accession Treaty, on the basis of previous enlargement experiences and a sound economic analysis of the needs of the UK economy. The last few months have suggested that this decision was right, with applicants to the Worker Registration Scheme meeting recruitment difficulties in agriculture, hospitality and catering as well as providing a range of much needed skills across many sectors. The Worker Registration Figures show that during May and June, 24,198 Central and Eastern European migrants applied to register; of these 14,422 were in the country before 1 May and 8,172 were new arrivals. Accession nationals who were working here illegally have been able to regularise their status, affording their rights better protection and generating tax revenue. We estimate that since 1 May, registered workers are contributing over £4 million a week to the UK economy and paying over £0.5 million a week in tax. There is no evidence that accession workers are exploiting the benefits system.

The UK's experience is similar to that of Sweden and Ireland who also opened their labour markets to accession state nationals. Both countries have not seen
 
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a dramatic increase in arrivals since 1 May. We are not aware of more general study of the impact of free movement of workers on those EU members who chose to take up the derogation.

EU Fisheries

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Minister for Europe has had with the EU Fisheries Commissioner. [191580]

Mr. MacShane: None.

Gibraltar

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Minister for Europe has had with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar. [191581]

Mr. MacShane: I met with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar on 26 May, 21 and 30 September 2004. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary also met the Chief Minister on 26 May 2004.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the case for a hon. Member representing Gibraltar. [191373]

Mr. MacShane: Overseas Territories, including Gibraltar, are not part of the metropolitan UK. We therefore have no plans for a Member of Parliament to represent Gibraltar, or any other Overseas Territory.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to continue negotiations with the Spanish Government concerning Gibraltar's sovereignty. [191447]

Mr. MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton) on 16 December 2003 Official Report, column 1417.

Greenhouse Gases

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the European Environment Agency regarding greenhouse gas emissions. [191574]

Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with the European Environment Agency. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs maintains contacts between the Government and the European Environment Agency.

Iran

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Iranian Government on terrorism. [190653]

Mr. Rammell [holding answer 18 October 2004]: We regularly discuss with the Iranian Government their approach to terrorism and towards groups seeking to
 
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undermine the Middle East Peace Process through violence. The EU has made clear that its relations with Iran can make progress only if Iran takes action to address the EU's concerns, including in these areas. We continue to urge the Iranian authorities to ensure that groups engaged in terrorism and violence in Iraq, the Israel/Palestine region and elsewhere do not draw material or political support from inside Iran.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had on the Iranian Nuclear Programme at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 11 October. [190758]

Mr. MacShane: There was a general discussion on the EU's policy towards Iran. It was agreed that the EU should maintain pressure on Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, and to co-operate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency as required by recent Resolutions of the Agency's Board of Governors.

Iraq

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the International Atomic Energy Agency's findings on (a) access to sites in Iraq and (b) the potential loss of nuclear materials from Iraq. [192269]

Mr. MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) in the House on 12 October 2004, Official Report, columns 142–43.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the staff at the British embassy in Baghdad by (a) rank, (b) gender and (c) nationality. [189914]

Mr. Rammell [holding answer 12 October 2004]: There are currently 64 UK based members of staff serving at the British embassy in Baghdad, including representatives from the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Defence and the British Council. At the present time there are also 27 Locally Engaged Staff and 89 consultants.

The breakdown of UK based staff is Ambassador, Deputy Head of Mission, Defence Attaché, four Counsellors, 19 First Secretaries, 10 Second Secretaries, 8 Third Secretaries and administrative staff. DFID also has a team working from the embassy building.

Of the 64 UK based staff, 18 are female. Nine of the 27 Locally Engaged Staff are female, and 14 of the 89 consultants are female.

All UK based staff hold British Nationality. All Locally Engaged Staff hold Iraqi nationality. The consultants come from at least 18 different nations.

Staffing changes on a constant basis and is kept under review.
 
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Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the level of attacks upon the Christian minority in Iraq; [190884]

(2) what protection is available for the Christian minority in Iraq. [190885]

Mr. Rammell: There is no specific protection available solely for Christians in Iraq, apart from arrangements they make for themselves. Like all Iraqis, Christians are protected by members of the Iraqi Security Forces. However, there have been worrying reports, that in certain parts of Iraq, Christians are suffering discrimination and sometimes violent attack. Our diplomatic missions in Iraq meet with representatives of the Christian community and we regularly raise their concerns with the Iraqi authorities.

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