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Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what UK representations there will be at the 2005 non-proliferation treaty review conference; and what proposals they will put forward. [203128]

Mr. MacShane: The UK will send a full delegation to the 2005 review conference. We will stress the need for a stronger and more effective counter-proliferation regime and the central role of the NPT as its cornerstone. We will emphasise the importance of compliance with the treaty and will promote the adoption of safeguards. We will emphasise the strength
 
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of the UK's positive record on nuclear disarmament and we will present a final report of the studies we have conducted on the verification of nuclear disarmament.

Passports (Biometric Data)

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which international (a) treaties and (b) agreements require the UK to introduce biometric passports. [203709]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer of 9 December 2004]: There are currently no international treaties or agreements that require the UK to introduce biometric passports. However, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, of which the UK is a member has set international standards for travel document security, which include a biometric passport.

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what biometric information is to be required by the United States for UK passport-holders wishing to enter that country. [203710]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer of 9 December 2004]: From 30 September 2004, all travellers to the US have been digitally photographed and have had their index fingers digitally scanned on arrival at passport control.

The US Government has stated that anyone travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Programme with a passport issued on or after 26 October 2005 must have a biometric passport in order to travel visa-free. The biometric identifier must comply with standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. These include a digitally encoded photograph and the personal information that already appears on the data page of UK passports.

Republic of Macedonia

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to recognise the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the Republic of Macedonia; and if he will make a statement. [202534]

Mr. MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr. Simmonds) on 17 November 2004, Official Report, column 1554W.

Rwanda

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the meetings held in the last 18 months between (a) himself, (b) members of his Department and (c) UK representatives in Rwanda and (i) members and (ii) representatives of the Government of Rwanda in which the situation in (A) the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and (B) the Democratic Republic of Congo in general has been (1) the main topic on the agenda and (2) a major topic on the agenda; what proposals (x) he, (y) members of his Department and (z) UK representatives in Rwanda made for the involvement of Rwanda in stabilising the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; how these proposals were met by (aa) members
 
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and (bb) representatives of the Government of (I) Rwanda and (II) the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. [203814]

Mr. Mullin: My right honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary met President Kagame in May 2003 and January 2004. I met President Kagame in June 2004. We discussed the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in all these meetings.

Officials from my Department and UK representatives in Rwanda regularly discuss the DRC with the Rwandan Government. To list the agenda and contents of all discussions between the UK and Rwandan Governments over the past 18 months would incur disproportionate cost.

The UK has consistently reminded Rwanda of its obligations to respect the territorial integrity of the DRC and the need for it to play a constructive role in building peace in the Great Lakes region.

South Korea

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the most recent International Atomic Energy Agency's report on South Korea's enrichment of uranium and plutonium. [202532]

Mr. MacShane: The IAEA report was examined in detail by the Board of Governors on 25–26 November 2004. They noted that the activities reported were of serious concern, but welcomed the corrective action that the Republic of Korea had taken. The board encouraged the Republic of Korea to continue its active co-operation with the agency, pursuant to its Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol.

Special Advisers

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether departmental special advisers have attended meetings with external (a) bodies and (b) individuals, in their official capacity and without Ministers, since May 1997. [203450]

Mr. Straw: Yes.

Sudan

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Government has held with the Sudanese Government regarding the threatened expulsion of aid agencies working in Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [202528]

Mr. Mullin: On 29 November 2004, our Ambassador in Khartoum raised wit the local authorities reports of the decision to ask the Directors of Oxfam and Save the Children UK to leave Sudan. The Government of Sudan subsequently indicated that this decision has been suspended until further notice.

It is vital that all humanitarian agencies are given unfettered access to deliver assistance in Darfur. We will continue to make this clear as necessary to the Government of Sudan.
 
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Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan about (a) respect for the ceasefire in Darfur, (b) protection of civilians in the internally-displaced persons camps and (c) obligations under the United Nations international human rights treaties, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. [202804]

Mr. Mullin: The UK Government make regular representations to the Government of Sudan, both bilaterally and at meetings of the Joint Implementation Mechanism, on the need for it to abide by the 8 April N'Djamena ceasefire agreement and the Abuja Security and Humanitarian Protocols, signed on 9 November.

We also regularly raise the need for it to ensure the protection of all civilians—including displaced persons—in Darfur, and to adhere to the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, including on the need for all returns to be voluntary and appropriate.

Our Embassy in Khartoum, both bilaterally and as part of the EU-Sudan dialogue, makes regular representations to the Sudanese Government on the need for it to abide by international humanitarian law, including UN international human rights treaties. These include, inter alia, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention Against Torture and the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. During my visit to Sudan, I pressed Sudanese Justice Minister Yassin to ratify the Convention Against Torture as soon as possible.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the recent expulsion of charity workers by the Government of Sudan. [203740]

Mr. Mullin: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Tweedale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Mr. Moore) today (UIN 202528).

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the use of kidnap and rape by the warring factions in Darfur. [203738]

Mr. Mullin: We deplore the use of rape and kidnap by the warring factions in Darfur. We have repeatedly made clear to all sides that such actions must stop and that there can be no impunity for such crimes.

We therefore welcome the establishment of the International Commission of Inquiry to investigate violations of human rights in Darfur and to determine who should be held accountable.

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