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9 Feb 2005 : Column 1551W—continued
European Constitution
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what research his Department undertook regarding the question in the referendum on the EU constitution; [214336]
(2) what opinion polling evidence his Department considered or commissioned regarding potential questions in the referendum on the EU constitution; [214337]
(3) what focus group research his Department considered or commissioned regarding potential questions in the referendum on the EU constitution; [214338]
(4) what consultations, and with whom, his Department carried out regarding potential questions in the referendum on the EU constitution; [214339]
(5) with which (a) Government organisations and Departments, (b) non-government organisations, (c) private companies, (d) institutions of the European Union and (e) other bodies he consulted regarding potential questions in the referendum on the EU constitution; [214340]
(6) when he decided the wording of the question to be used in the referendum on the EU constitution. [214341]
Mr. Leslie: I have been asked to reply
There has been no research, opinion polling, focus group research or consultation on the question providing for a referendum on the treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union. No non-government organisations, private companies, institutions of the European Union organisation or other bodies were consulted.
The question was drafted bearing in mind the Electoral Commission's guidelines, which are designed to ensure a question is intelligible. The Electoral
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Commission's views on the question in Lord Blackwell's Private Member's Bill of July 2004 were also taken into account.
The wording of the question was decided following agreement at ministerial level with relevant Departments.
European Constitution (Gibraltar)
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice he has taken on the consequences for the UK referendum on the EU Constitution of a decision by Gibraltar not to hold a referendum. [215210]
Mr. MacShane: The hon. Member will be aware that the people of Gibraltar will be entitled to vote in the referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty.
Iraq
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the awarding of contracts for (a) reconstruction and (b) the privatisation of public services during the period of the interim government in Iraq. [214219]
Mr. Rammell: Following the end of occupation on 28 June 2004, responsibility for contracts funded from the Development Fund for Iraq (DPI) passed to the Iraqi Government. The US Project and Contracting Office (PCO) continues to manage DPI funded contracts awarded prior to 28 June 2004.
The DPI continues to be monitored by the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), mandated under United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1483 of 22 May 2003 and 1546 of 8 June 2004 to ensure DPI funds are used in a transparent manner and for purposes benefiting the Iraqi people.
US-funded contracts previously issued by the dissolved Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) are now the responsibility of the PCO. The PCO contracts and manages the disbursal of US Supplemental funds.
Contracts funded by the International Reconstruction Trust Fund Facility for Iraq (IRFFI) are issued by the World Bank and UN under their respective procurement procedures for projects proposed by the Iraqi Government.
Israel
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government following the recent killing of an 10-year-old schoolgirl and the injuring of another by Israeli forces in Rafah. [214282]
Mr. Rammell:
The exact circumstances surrounding the killing of a 10-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl in Rafah, Gaza are still not clear. Our staff in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are monitoring the situation closely.
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Whatever the outcome of this case, we deplore the number of civilian casualties, particularly children, which have resulted from this conflict, and call on both sides to act with restraint.
Jamatta Islah-ul-Mushimeen
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's discussions with the government of the United Arab Emirates about the Islamic group Jamatta Islah-ul-Mushimeen; what the purpose of these talks was; on what date they were held; at what level they were held; and what the outcome was. [210740]
Mr. Rammell [holding answer 24 January 2005]: My right hon. and noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean visited the United Arab Emirates last month where, among other bilateral issues, she discussed terrorism. These discussions included a number of groups of concern.
Kosovo
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with European countries regarding the human rights situation in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [214452]
Mr. MacShane:
The UN Security Council-endorsed Standards are central to improving human rights in Kosovo. In March 2004, the publication of the Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan gave new impetus to work to create a multi-ethnic, stable and democratic Kosovo. We discuss Standards and their
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implementation regularly with EU partners; in particular how the EU can continue to support the efforts of the wider international community, including the Contact Group, to move Kosovo towards a resolution of its final status.
EU countries provide practical assistance for the implementation of Standards in Kosovo bilaterally and through the Commission's €173 million CARDS assistance programme. In particular, the CARDS programme has contributed €11 million in direct support for organised return and resettlement projects for internally displaced persons.
Official Residences
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the official residences for which his Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the occupants of each make towards running costs; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure has been on those properties in each of the past five years; how much money was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 2003–04; how many (i) domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment was in 2003–04. [213559]
Mr. MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) maintains official residential accommodation and conference facilities at 1 Carlton Gardens, London. The running costs for the last five financial years for the residential accommodation, currently unoccupied, are as follows:
A rent review in April 2000 resulted in a rental increase. There are no separate records available for expenditure on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills in 2003–04 at this property. No maintenance or domestic staff are employed.
The FCO is also responsible for running Head of Missions' Residences overseas. The budgets for this are held at overseas posts; the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Peacekeeping Forces
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost has been to the United Kingdom in each of the last five years of UK peacekeeping forces; and if he will make a statement. [214384]
Mr. Rammell:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been administering the Government's financial contributions to peacekeeping and other peace support operations since 2001. That is when funding these activities was brought within the management structure of the Africa and Global Conflict Prevention Pools, except where the scale or volatility of such activity would seriously impact on other pool activities. The Global and Africa Conflict Prevention Pools combine the knowledge and resources of the Ministry of Defence, Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It has a unique funding arrangement specifically voted by Parliament for conflict prevention and reduction. Total expenditure on peacekeeping and peace support operations from the pools since 2001 is shown in the table. The figures include both assessed and voluntary contributions to the UN and other organisations.
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| Financial year | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 458 |
| 2002–03 | 386 |
| 2003–04 | 288 |
| 2004–05 | (39)336 |
(39) Current forecast: accounts to be finalised after the end of the 2004–05 financial year.
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