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China

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart about the imprisonment of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche. [198289]

Mr. Rammell: We and our EU partners have raised in a series of demarches with the Chinese authorities our serious concerns about the way in which the trial of Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche was conducted and the lack of transparency. The most recent EU demarche took place on 4 February 2004. I raised the case bilaterally with Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui in December 2003.

I raised general Tibet issues with Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui during my visit to China in October. We raised the case most recently during the UK China Human Rights Dialogue in May, when FCO officials asked for confirmation that the authorities would not carry out the death sentence. We also expressed concern at the judicial process and requested a re-trial. This case has also been included on our list of individual cases of concern for the November 2004 UK China Human Rights Dialogue round.

UK Detainees (United States)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom citizens detained by the United States authorities in each of the last five years have subsequently been released from custody. [197362]

Mr. Mullin: We have kept records of the number of British nationals detained and subsequently released (including those detained for short periods without charge) by the US authorities since 2002. The relevant statistics are:

	Number
2002	(40)948
2003	1364
2004	(41)1044

⁽⁴⁰⁾ Excludes last quarter of the year for which figures are not available.
⁽⁴¹⁾ Up to 30 June.

In addition, five British nationals who were detained by the US authorities at Guantanamo Bay were released in March 2004.
 
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UN Reform

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on reforming the UN with particular reference to processes for dealing with international terrorism. [198739]

Mr. MacShane: The Government at all levels, including my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, frequently discusses the international effort to combat terrorism with the UN and other member states. At present there are numerous initiatives under way at the UN, including the Secretary General's High Level Panel, the follow up to Security Council Resolutions 1535 and 1566 and negotiations on resolutions and conventions in the General Assembly.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial arrangement exists with the United States with regard to its presence on (a) Diego Garcia and (b) other parts of the British Indian Ocean Territory; and when each arrangement is due to expire. [198784]

Mr. Rammell: There is no lease of Diego Garcia or any other part of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) to the United States, and they make no payment in respect of their presence there. Under the initial agreement of December 1966 between the UK and the US on the use of BIOT, the whole territory is to remain available for the defence needs of the two countries for an initial period of 50 years from 1966, and thereafter for a further period of 20 years unless either party has given prior notice to terminate it. A further agreement concluded in 1976, which has been supplemented by various other agreements, regulates the establishment and functioning of a United States Defence Facility in Diego Garcia and related matters.

Visa Costs

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the charge in pounds sterling is for a visitor's visa to the UK in (a) India, (b) Pakistan, (c) Sri Lanka and (d) Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement. [198188]

Mr. Mullin: Our visa fees are set on a worldwide basis and are the same irrespective of the country in which an application is made. Our standard visit visa is valid for multiple entries for a six-month period. The fee is currently set at £36 payable in local currency. Longer visit visas are available allowing multiple entries providing no one visit exceeds a six-month duration. One, two, five and 10 year visit visa fees are £60, £70, £88 and £150 respectively.

Visa fees are set at a level to ensure that the full cost of providing the entry clearance service worldwide is met from fee income and that the UK taxpayer does not have to meet any of the costs. Visa fees are non-refundable. This information is on the UKvisas website www.ukvisas.gov.uk. Further information on the fees in local currency for the countries in question can be obtained from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website www.fco.gov.uk.
 
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Western Sahara

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the extension of the UN Mission for the Referendum on Western Sahara (MINURSO) plan for the Western Sahara until 30 April 2005; and what support the British Government are giving to MINURSO. [197911]

Mr. Rammell: The UK supported UN Security Council resolution 1570 adopted on 28 October, which extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 April 2005. By doing so, we reaffirmed our commitment to assist the parties in achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the dispute, that provides for the self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara. The UK contributed over £1.5 million to MINURSO in 2003–04, and expects to contribute over £1.4 million in 2004–05.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Saharwi activists on their appeal to the UN to enforce Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, with reference to fulfilling UN resolutions on Western Sahara. [197912]

Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with Saharan activists on their appeal to the UN to enforce Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials met representatives of the Polisario Front in London in September 2004, when UN enforcement of Chapter 7 of the UN Charter in relation to the Western Sahara dispute was discussed.

UK policy is to support UN efforts to resolve the conflict in the Western Sahara and we urge all parties to work towards a mutually acceptable solution that provides the people of the Western Sahara with an opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination.

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the political situation in Western Sahara since June. [198275]

Mr. Rammell: United Nations Security Council resolution 1570, which was adopted unanimously on 28 October 2004, extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 April 2005. The resolution calls upon the parties and States of the region to continue to co-operate fully with the United Nations (UN) to end the current impasse and to achieve progress towards a political solution.

The Government continues to seek a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the Western Sahara dispute that provides the people of the Western Sahara with an opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination. The Government believes UN efforts to find a solution to the dispute should be maintained.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between the Government and Botswana regarding the political situation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [198261]

 
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Mr. Mullin: We remain in regular contact with Botswana and other countries in the region, about Zimbabwe, through our diplomatic missions and high-level visits.

I discussed the matter with President Mogae during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in December 2003.

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