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Research and Development

Mr. Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department's international science network of support has made of industrial research and development in (a) the US, (b) EU accession states, (c) India and (d) China. [219872]

Mr. Alexander: The Science and Innovation Network was set up in key selected countries, including the US, China and India, to work on issues of science policy, science collaboration, wealth creation and public diplomacy. Among the EU accession countries there are
 
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officers only in Poland and the Czech Republic. The Network reports on industrial research and development, among other scientific issues, to help inform UK policy and practice on science and innovation. For example, the Network made a significant input to inform the Department for Trade and Industry's Innovation Report in December 2003. It also provides reports on request to a range of UK stakeholders. The Global Watch Online website http://www.globalwatchonline.com/countries/ciner.aspx includes reports from the Network sorted according to country and sector. This site is being updated and will be relaunched in April.

Russian Federation

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the Russian Federation's progress in moving towards a market based democracy with economic transparency; and if he will make a statement. [219502]

Mr. Rammell: Russia has made important progress along the path of economic and democratic reforms since the break-up of the Soviet Union. President Putin's first term saw an impressive programme of economic reforms launched, designed to liberalise the economy. Further progress was made on issues such as land law and tax reform, deregulation, and helping to create better conditions for small and medium sized businesses.

Russia was recognised by the EU and US as having attained market economy status in 2002. We support Russia's objective of joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and welcome the stimulus this has given to further market reforms. A bilateral agreement on WTO accession terms and conditions was concluded with the EU in May 2004.

We are, through bilateral Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development programmes, supporting Russia's process of economic reform, and we are working on programmes connected to issues such as corporate social governance and media oversight, designed to improve economic transparency.

It is clear that the handling of the Yukos affair has raised concerns in the minds of investors in Russia about the Government's commitment to transparency and the rule of law. We have raised these concerns with the Russian Government. We have also underlined the need to reaffirm commitment to open markets and democratic processes. In that respect, we welcome President Putin's recent statements in Bratislava on Russia's commitment to democracy and want to see this and the rule of law firmly entrenched in the reform process, as well as human rights protected.

Student Visas

Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of changes in the numbers of student visa applications from China in recent years. [218579]

Mr. Mullin: The information requested is in the table.
 
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	As at 1 April to 31 March:
Student visa applications received	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Guangzhou	4,829	6,554	6,193
Beijing	19,581	22,161	22,828
Shanghai	4,928	5,762	6,487
Total	29,338	34,477	35,508

The table shows the number of visa applications received from students at our visa issuing posts in China over the three most recent years has increased. Statistics for the period April 2004 to March 2005 are not yet available. When they are, they can be found, along with further entry clearance statistics, on the UKvisas website at www.ukvisas.gov.uk—Entry Clearance: Facts and Figures".

Terrorism

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what means UK security authorities are able to monitor the activities abroad of foreign nationals who accept voluntary deportation, having been held in detention under Part 4 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; and what co-operation agreements are in place between United Kingdom security and intelligence services and those of other states to combat terrorism. [219449]

Mr. Straw: Our security and intelligence services co-operate closely with their counterparts in many countries on counter terrorism. It is not in the public interest to provide details of such cooperation in particular cases.

Tsunami

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with countries affected by the Asian tsunami regarding the sexual exploitation of children left (a) orphaned and (b) otherwise vulnerable by the disaster; and what assistance the Government have given to help combat sexual exploitation. [219718]

Mr. Rammell: The response to the tsunami is an agenda item for discussion between EU and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministers on 9 March in Jakarta.

We take the opportunity to discuss these issues in our meetings with ASEAN counterparts. Discussions continue between UK government officials, including law enforcement officers, and the authorities of the countries affected on UK support for the protection of vulnerable children in the region. A regional law enforcement training course funded by the UK and held in February in Bangkok on dealing with sex offenders included a specific element on the response to the tsunami.

Tyrannies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries classified as tyrannies by his Department; what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) other members of the UK Government have had with (i) members and (ii)
 
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representatives of the US Administration with regard to a common definition of tyranny; and if he will make a statement. [220292]

Mr. Rammell: It is not our practice to classify countries as tyrannies. There are, however, countries where poor adherence to international human rights standards, and a lack of commitment to democracy, good governance and the rule of law, cause us particular concern. The Government work to improve the human rights performance of such countries both bilaterally with the countries concerned; in partnership with others, such as the US; and multilaterally, through the EU, UN and other organisations. A full record of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) work in this area is published in our annual report on human rights, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House, and which is also available on the FCO website: www.fco.gov.uk.

Uganda

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the recent appointment of Sam Kutessa as Uganda's Foreign Minister. [219549]

Mr. Mullin: We have normal diplomatic relations with Uganda. Ministerial appointments are a matter for the Ugandan authorities.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ugandan authorities regarding the kidnapping in Kenya of Mr. George Tumwesigye Owakukiroru. [219550]

Mr. Mullin: We understand that George Tumwesigye was arrested on the Uganda/Kenya border on a charge of treason. He is now being held in Kigo Prison in Kampala, and we understand that his case is due to be heard on 9 March. We are in touch with the Uganda Human Rights Commission, which is monitoring the conditions under which he is being held.

United States

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent visit of President Bush to the EU headquarters in Brussels. [220203]

Mr. Mullin: The timing of President Bush's visit to Europe, so early in his second term, shows the importance he attaches to the transatlantic relationship. As President Bush highlighted in his speech on 22 February,

America and Europe face a moment of consequence and opportunity".

Leaders on both sides recognise the continued importance of the EU and US continuing to work in partnership on the challenges that face us in the 21st century.

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