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Burma

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made by the Government at the fifth Asia-Europe summit in Hanoi on the Government of Burma's record of human rights abuses. [192051]

Mr. Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) on 18 October 2004, Official Report, columns 465–66W.

Cambodia

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the Government of Cambodia regarding King Sihanouk's abdication. [192057]

Mr. Alexander: We have not held any discussions with the Government of Cambodia regarding King Sihanouk's abdication.

Chad

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the Government of Chad on the influx of Sudanese refugees fleeing Janjaweed militia. [192060]

Mr. Mullin: Officials from the Department for International Development and the British embassy in Cameroon, which covers Chad, have held discussions with the Government of Chad about the influx of Sudanese refugees fleeing violence in Darfur. We have also provided £6.75 million to UN agencies in Chad, and
 
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we are currently agreeing commitments for over £2 million to NGOs working there, to assist the refugees and Chadian host communities.

China

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place on the lifting of the arms embargo on China with the Governments of (a) France, (b) the USA, (c) the EU and (d) China; and what assessment has been made of the likely impact on the security situation in the South China seas. [192050]

Mr. Rammell: The review of the EU arms embargo was announced by the European Council on 12 December 2003. The issue was last discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the 11 October 2004 General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), and will revert to a future GAERC. In recent contacts with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, US and Chinese Ministers have expressed an interest in the review of the embargo.

However, the review and any decisions arising from it are to be undertaken by the EU only. The EU will take all relevant factors into account in the review. The Government does not wish to pre-empt the conclusion of the review.

The Government continues to implement the arms embargo as set out by the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the late Derek Fatchett, in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading, East (Jane Griffiths) on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 246–47.

Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to how many further cases of concern since the publication of the FCO Human Rights Report 2003 raised by the Government with the Government of the People's Republic of China the Chinese Government have responded. [192172]

Mr. Rammell: Since the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Report was published in 2003 the Chinese Government have responded to 68 cases. Of these 29 are new cases raised for the first time.

Consul-General's Residence (New York)

Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates the contracts were exchanged for (a) the sale of the Consul-General's former residence in New York and (b) the purchase of the new residence in New York. [192170]

Mr. Rammell: Contracts were exchanged for the sale of the Consul-General's former residence in New York on 9 December 2003 and the purchase of the Consul-General's new residence in New York on 1 November 2001.

Correspondence

Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter of 14 July from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire to the Minister of State. [192115]

 
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Mr. Rammell [holding answer 18 October 2004]: My noble Friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean) would like to apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in replying to his letter of 14 July. She replied today.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkish government officially to recognise the state of the Republic of Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [191966]

Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have a regular dialogue with the Turkish Government on a range of issues relating to Cyprus. Turkish recognition of the Republic of Cyprus is one of them.

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the issues that involve the whole island of Cyprus on which he expects co-operation from the Turkish government; and if he will make a statement. [191967]

Mr. MacShane: The principal issue involving the whole of Cyprus on which the co-operation of the Turkish government is required is efforts to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus Problem.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the Governments of (a) Rwanda and (b) Uganda on the political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and what steps have been taken by the Government to foster security and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its neighbouring countries. [192049]

Mr. Mullin: I have visited the Great Lakes region twice this year. On both occasions I discussed security and stability with the Governments of Rwanda, Uganda and DRC. My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the International Development Secretary also regularly raise this with regional Governments.

The UK supported UN Security Council Resolution 1565 (2004), which authorised the deployment of a further 5,900 military personnel to the UN Mission in DRC (MONUC). We believe that this will help to improve MONUC's effectiveness, particularly in Eastern DRC. We also support the forthcoming International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

Eritrea

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the Government of Eritrea following the expulsion of BBC correspondent, Jonah Fisher. [192043]

Mr. Mullin: Our Ambassador in Asmara has asked the authorities for information on this case and plans to meet the Government as soon as possible to make clear our concern.
 
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EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the Greek presidency of the EU the Committee on financial and technical co-operation between the Community and Mediterranean non-member countries met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present at each meeting; what (a) technical and (b) financial issues were raised by the UK Government expert at each meeting; what recommendations the Committee produced during that period; what actions were (i) proposed and (ii) taken by the EU as a result of the Committee's recommendations; and if he will make a statement. [192495]

Mr. MacShane: We are not aware that any such meetings took place during the Greek presidency.

EU Legislation

Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of UK legislation emanated from the European Union (a) between 1992 and 1997 and (b) since 1997. [190051]

Mr. MacShane: Information relating to the total proportion of legislation agreed by the UK and other EU member states in the Council of Ministers, which has effect or is implemented in the UK, is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departments record individually the primary and secondary legislation introduced to implement EU requirements. Only a small proportion of Foreign and Commonwealth Office legislation is introduced to implement EU requirements.

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