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10 Mar 2005 : Column 1990W—continued
UK Nuclear Capability
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has assessed the merits of mounting nuclear warheads on cruise missiles as part of the UK's current or future nuclear deterrent. [221036]
Mr. Hoon: For details of an assessment made in 1980, I refer the hon. Member to Defence Open Government Document 80/23, published by the then Defence Secretary in July 1980, particularly paragraphs 35–43. Subsequently, as noted by the then Defence Secretary on 18 October 1993, Official Report, column 34, an air-to-surface missile was considered as a possible delivery system to replace the RAF's freefall nuclear bomb. No assessment of the possibility of cruise missiles forming a part of the United Kingdom's current nuclear deterrent capability has been made under the present Administration. Paragraph 3.11 of the 2003 Defence White Paper made clear that we would keep open the range of options for maintaining a nuclear deterrent capability in future until decisions are required.
Union Flag (Gibraltar)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the size of the Union flag flown on his Department's site on top of the Rock of Gibraltar has been reduced; and if he will ensure that the flag flown there is of the size flown previously. [220978]
Mr. Ingram:
A smaller than usual sized flag has been flown from the top of the Department's site on the Rock of Gibraltar since Christmas 2001, after the previous flag blew away. British Forces Gibraltar have recently ordered, and are awaiting the delivery of, a larger flag.
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US National Ignition Facility
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been invested to date by his Department in the US National Ignition Facility. [220103]
Mr. Hoon: The United Kingdom has spent $43.34 million to date against a total commitment of $46 million.
Vice Chief of Defence Staff
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work is being undertaken in Vice Chief of Defence Staff Medium Workstrands; and if he will make a statement. [220832]
Mr. Ingram: In July 2004 the Ministry of Defence published 'Delivering Security in a Changing World (Future Capabilities)' (Cm 6269), which described the changes to the planned structure of the armed forces and the forward equipment plan flowing from the policy adjustments set out in the Defence White Paper of December 2003 (Cm 6041). The Vice Chief of Defence Staff is leading action to implement these changes and ensure the resultant benefits are delivered.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Cocaine (South America)
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the level of production of cocaine in each of the past 10years in (a) Colombia, (b) Peru, (c) Bolivia and (d) the rest of South America. [220703]
Mr. Rammell: In its 2004 World Drug Report, the United Nations office on drugs and crime listed the following figures for potential cocaine manufacture.
| Bolivia | Columbia | Peru | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 240 | 119 | 410 |
| 1994 | 255 | 201 | 435 |
| 1995 | 240 | 230 | 460 |
| 1996 | 215 | 300 | 435 |
| 1997 | 200 | 350 | 325 |
| 1998 | 150 | 435 | 240 |
| 1999 | 70 | 680 | 175 |
| 2000 | 43 | 69 | 141 |
| 2001 | 60 | 617 | 150 |
| 2002 | 60 | 580 | 160 |
| 2003 | 60 | 440 | 155 |
These figures are based on the amount of cocaine that can be produced from coca leaf grown in the country concerned.
Some coca cultivation has also been reported in Brazil, Panama and Venezuela, but it is thought to be relatively insignificant in comparison with the volumes produced in the Andean countries.
European Constitution
Kate Hoey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions
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(a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department had with the organisation Britain in Europe regarding the question for the referendum on the European constitution. [217448]
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department received (a) briefing, (b) research and (c) other submissions from the organisation Britain in Europe regarding the question in the referendum on the European constitution. [217449]
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from what non-governmental (a) organisations and (b) individuals his Department received advice, market research or the results of opinion polling regarding the wording of the question in the referendum on the European constitution. [217450]
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide a copy of the proposed European constitution for each household in the UK. [217677]
Mr. MacShane: There are no current plans for such a distribution, but the treaty, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's commentary upon it, are available free at www.europe.gov.uk. The full text and commentary have also been made available to central libraries, and are available to members of the public on request from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Oil for Food Programme
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Governments of (a) France, (b) Russia and (c) China on (i) the Volcker investigation into the UN Oil for Food programme and (ii) the illegal movements of oil from Iraq prior to the invasion. [220824]
Mr. Rammell: The Government has had regular bilateral and multilateral discussions with France, Russia, China and other Security Council members about the establishment and ongoing work of the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) investigating the Oil for Food Programme, including its endorsement under resolution 1538 (21 April 2004).
Prior to the military action of 19 March 2003, the Government also regularly raised its concerns in the Security Council and bilaterally with other countries about illegal activities under the UN's Iraq sanctions regime, including the illicit smuggling of oil.
Poppy Cultivation
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that any reduction in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan is not replaced by increased cultivation in other countries, with particular reference to Myanmar, Pakistan, Kazhakstan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkemenistan and China. [220704]
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Mr. Rammell: In addition to the UK's lead nation status on counter narcotics in Afghanistan, we are active around the world to increase international capacity to combat the production and illicit trade in drugs which pose a threat to the UK. Pakistan and Iran are two of the highest priority countries for UK assistance. The UK is also providing £1.3 million to build counter narcotics capacity in Tajikistan.
We take forward this work in full cooperation with international partners, in particular engagement with the European Commission and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Sudan
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Sudanese authorities concerning their seizure of the Anglican Church headquarters in Khartoum; and what discussions he has had with (a) Bishops of Khartoum and (b) their representatives on the matter. [220911]
Mr. Mullin [holding answer 9 March 2005]: On 20 May 2004, police entered the Episcopal Church of Sudan's (ECS) guesthouse in Khartoum (which also served as the provincial office) and ordered the eviction of ECS personnel and properties from the building. This followed a court order on an ownership dispute, in which it is alleged the serving Archbishop had sold the premises to a private businessman. The sale was challenged by the Church. The case is currently before the courts, with the next hearing due to be held on 15 March 2005. The noble Lord, Lord Carey of Clifton raised this matter with Sudanese Vice President Taha during a visit in January 2005. We will continue to follow this case and keep in regular contact with the ECS and representatives of all religious groups in Sudan.
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