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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Afghanistan
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the expected crop of opium poppies in Afghanistan in 2004 is, expressed in (a) area of land cultivated and (b) tonnes of opium produced. [194268]
Mr. Rammell: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime will publish on 4 November its annual survey into the level of opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan. The figures are not yet available. However, we anticipate a significant increase in cultivation levels this year. Increases in production may be proportionally lower given lower yields due to drought and disease.
As lead nation on counter narcotics in Afghanistan, co-ordinating international assistance, the UK works closely with the Afghan Government to support delivery of the Afghan National Drug Control Strategy. We have committed more than £70 million over three years for counter narcotics activity plus significant development funding and support for alternative livelihoods. We will be looking to increase that activity over the coming year and are also encouraging the international community to do more in order to achieve a reduction in cultivation next year.
Angola
Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relations with Angola. [192605R]
Mr. Mullin: The UK has good relations with Angola. I met the Angola Finance Minister in April 2004. My right hon. Friend the International Development Secretary met Angola's Minister for Assistance and Social Reintegration in London on 17 March. We have worked closely with Angola for the last two years in the Security Council. The UK, through the Department for International Development, provided £9.4 million in bilateral assistance in 2003/2004.
Cayman Islands
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the executive body of the Cayman Islands relating to illicit drug trafficking. [192611]
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Mr. Rammell: The UK adopted a Security Co-operation Plan with CARICOM partners, of which the Cayman Islands is an associate member, when I visited Jamaica on 20 October. We already fund a regional maritime training initiative that encompasses the Cayman Islands.
Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 6 September 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Usman Ilyas and Mrs. Iram Usman; [190619]
(2) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 6 September 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Ilyas; [192540]
(3) when he will answer the letter to him dated 6 September 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Ilyas. [193936]
Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 20 October 2004.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 1 September 2004 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Abdul Rauf; [192541]
(2) when he will answer the letter to him dated 1 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Abdul Rauf. [193937]
(3) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 23 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms Saira Asif; [192542]
(4) when he will answer the letter to him dated 23 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Ms Saira Asif. [193938]
Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 29 October.
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when UKvisas intends to reply to the letters dated (a) 14 July regarding Mr. M. A., ref ISB/725541, (b) 16 July regarding Mr. M. A., Yemen, ref 301/04, (c) 4 August regarding Ms H. E. and (d) 19 August regarding Mrs. R O, ref GV 100/83235. [193026]
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Mr. Mullin: The information is as follows:
UKvisas had no trace of having received my hon. Friend's letter of 14 July, regarding Mr. M. A. UKvisas has since obtained a copy of this letter and a reply was sent on 28 October.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will answer the letter to him dated 14 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Pastor D. Lindsay. [193939]
Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied on 29 October.
Cuba
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by the UK Government to the Cuban Government for the release of (a) Jorge Perez (Autunez) and (b) Dr. Biscet. [195053]
Mr. Rammell: We regularly raise human rights cases—including these two—with the Cuban authorities in London and in Havana. We have been monitoring their situation and health, and embassy staff maintain close contacts with local human rights groups involved in their cases and with friends and family of the individuals. Dr. Biscet visited the embassy in November 2002 shortly before his arrest, and the Embassy last met his wife, Elsa Morejon, on 14 July. We are aware of considerable public interest in the fate of both prisoners.
UK policy on Cuba is governed by the EU Common Position, which has human rights enshrined as its key principle and which was reaffirmed on 14 June. The EU regularly issues statements condemning the imprisonment of human rights activists and other political prisoners.
Diego Garcia
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of exiled Diego Garcians who have been granted British citizenship with the right to reside in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [194858]
Mr. Rammell:
There are no precise figures but it is estimated that there are about 5,000 Chagossians who enjoy British citizenship with the right of abode in the UK following the coming into force of the British Overseas Territories Act in May 2002. Since then, the British High Commissions in Mauritius and Seychelles have issued more than 900 British passports to Chagossians.
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EU-Israel Association Agreement
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2004, Official Report, column 753W, on the EU-Israel Association Agreement, whether Israel is in full compliance with the human rights conditions of the EU Israel Association Agreement; whether there is an equivalent trade agreement with the Palestinian Authority; and what the official (a) UK and (b) EU definition of sanctions is. [194830]
Mr. MacShane: Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement states that "Relations between the Parties, as well as the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement".
We have raised our concerns about Israeli actions on human rights grounds with the Israeli Government both bilaterally and through the EU. Following the recent violence in Gaza, EU Foreign Ministers, at the 11 October General Affairs and External Relations Council, condemned "the disproportionate nature of the Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip". The EU has also regularly raised issues of concern, including human rights, at EU/Israel Association Councils.
I can confirm that an interim trade agreement with the PLO has been agreed and is in force.
Neither the UK nor the EU uses a particular definition of sanctions in the context of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. However, Article 79 of the EU/Israel Association Agreement provides that a Party may take "appropriate measures" where either Party considers that the other Party has failed to fulfil an obligation under the Agreement.
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