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Europe Day

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has made for the celebration of Europe Day on 9 May. [212383]

Mr. Alexander [holding answer 3 March 2005]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no plans to celebrate Europe Day.

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what budget his Department has allocated for the celebration of Europe Day on 9 May. [212384]

Mr. Alexander [holding answer 3 March 2005]: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not allocated a budget for the celebration of Europe Day.

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers in his Department will be involved in activities to mark or celebrate Europe Day on 9 May. [212385]

Mr. Alexander [holding answer 3 March 2005]: Ministers' plans for involvement in activities to celebrate Europe Day are not yet confirmed.

Falklands

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what the situation is regarding air links between the Falkland Islands and the South American mainland; and if he will make a statement; [219811]

(2) how many charter flights operate to the Falkland Islands using Argentine airspace, for the purposes of cruise ship passenger exchange. [219814]

Mr. Straw [holding answer 4 March 2005]: No charter flights currently operate between the Falkland Islands and the South American mainland. Charter flights between the Falkland Islands and the South American mainland have been halted since the end of 2003, when the Argentine Government stopped granting permission for charter flights to the Falkland Islands to use Argentine airspace. The scheduled LAN
 
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Chile flight is not affected by discussions over charter flights and continues to operate on a weekly basis between Southern Chile and the Falkland Islands.

I also refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Rammell) to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Redcar (Vera Baird) on 3 March 2005, Official Report, columns 1381–82W.

Iraq

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received regarding the export of oil from the Iraqi port of Khor al-Amaya in January and February 2003; and if he will make a statement. [217502]

Mr. Rammell: Under the UN sanctions regime, Iraq was not permitted to export oil from the Khor al-Amaya terminal. In February 2003 the UK mission to the UN in New York was informed that several tankers had evaded the US-led Multinational Interception Force which was tasked with upholding sanctions against Iraq and entered the Iraqi port of Khor al-Amaya. This was reported to the relevant UK authorities and shared with the US.

Israel

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli authorities on the extension of the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) prohibiting residents or citizens of Israel who are married to residents of the Occupied Territories from living in Israel with their spouses. [218216]

Mr. Rammell: We are concerned about the extension to the Citizenship and Entrance to Israel Law, which was made on 31 January, and its impact on Arab Israelis and Palestinians from the Occupied Territories. We have raised our concerns with the Israeli Government over this law, including with our EU partners on 21 July 2004. We will continue to monitor the situation and make appropriate representations.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning (a) the assassination of two members of the Al Asqa brigade and (b) the killing by shooting of children in Kuta Dahil, Bertniya Sabn al-Rjoub and Ratah during the ceasefire declared between Israel and Palestine. [218720]

Mr. Rammell: We recognise Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism but it must act in accordance with international law. In this context we have made representations at every level to the Israeli authorities raising our concerns regarding the disproportionate use offered by the Israeli defence forces in Gaza, and the number of civilian casualties, particularly children, which have resulted from their actions. We have not made specific representations concerning the cases detailed by the hon. Member.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning (a) the
 
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planned construction of a new settlement, Gvast Wan Bethlehem, (b) the new settlement on Jayyous Village land in Qalqilya and (c) the planned expansion of the Alfei Menashe settlement in Qalqilya; [218721]

(2) what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the expansion of (a) the Betan Unit settlement and (b) the Hat Homa settlement in Bethlehem district; [218722]

(3) whether he plans to take action against the Israeli Government following their refusal to abide by the International Court of Justice ruling on the separation barrier. [218724]

Mr. Rammell: We have made frequent representations to the Israeli Government expressing our concern over continued settlement activity and the routing of the separation barrier. While Israel has a legitimate right to defend itself against terrorist attacks, we consider construction of the barrier on occupied land to be unlawful and we note that this was also the conclusion of the International Court of Justice in its Advisory Opinion. We have also made clear our view that settlements are illegal under international law. The Roadmap requires that Israel freeze all settlement expansion and dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.

The barrier and settlements were raised most recently by my right hon. Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean during her meeting with the Israeli ambassador on 22 February. The British embassy in Tel Aviv has also made representations to the Israeli Government on construction in Jayyous. We have not made representations on the other individual settlements specified.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the evacuation and dismantling by the Israeli army of Israeli settler outposts in the West Bank. [218723]

Mr. Rammell: We believe that settlement expansion is a major obstacle to the peace process. We welcome Prime Minister Sharon's commitment in the Roadmap to freeze construction in settlements and to dismantle settlement outposts that are illegal even under Israeli law. We expect to see these commitments met. The Israeli Government are currently working on both mapping the outposts and investigating the legal framework for evacuating them. We are monitoring their work closely.

IT (Disciplinary Procedures)

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department have (a) received official warnings and (b) faced disciplinary procedures following breaches of IT policy in each year since 1997. [205805]

Mr. Alexander: Breaches of IT policy have been monitored periodically since April 2003. Between April and December 2003, 69 staff received official warnings. Between January and December 2004, 36 staff received official warnings. These warnings form part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office disciplinary process.
 
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Kenya

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government have given to Kroll in its work to recover moneys obtained through corruption in Kenya. [218458]

Mr. Mullin: None. I understand that Kroll has been engaged by the Government of Kenya. Neither the Government of Kenya nor the company have sought our assistance in identifying or recovering corruptly obtained money or assets in the UK.

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