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Sudan

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recommendation by the UN Human Rights Commissioner that the international criminal court should be used to prosecute Sudanese war criminals; and what discussions have taken place between the Government and the US Administration on the issue. [223329]

Mr. Mullin: We have made clear our preference for the situation in Darfur to be referred to the international criminal court (ICC), as recommended by the UN Human Rights Commissioner and the International Commission of Inquiry into Darfur. Since Sudan is not a state party to the ICC Statute, and is unlikely to refer the situation to the court, a decision by the Security Council will be required.

We are currently holding discussions with the US and other partners, in capitals and New York, on the draft text of a Security Council resolution that will address the issue of judicial accountability.

Uganda

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Ugandan counterpart about the use of violence by the Ugandan police against the activities of the Forum for Democratic Change; and if he will make a statement. [223007]

Mr. Mullin: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr. Simmonds) on 8 March 2005, Official Report, column 1796W.

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the activities of the People's Redemption Army in Uganda; when it was formed; in what areas of Uganda it is located; what installations and facilities it has attacked; and if he will make a statement. [223008]

Mr. Mullin: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 9 March 2005, Official Report, column 1896W.

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Ugandan counterpart concerning the use of violence by the Uganda Presidential Protection Brigade against the Forum for Democratic Change Women's Group's participation in International Women's Day celebrations; and if he will make a statement. [223009]

Mr. Mullin: We are not aware of violence being used against members of the Forum for Democratic Change trying to attend official Women's Day celebrations in
 
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Uganda. But we regularly make clear to the Ugandan authorities our views that opposition groups must be allowed to operate free of violence or intimidation.

Venezuela

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Venezuelan Government's policies on (a) land reform and (b) foreign-owned land. [223325]

Mr. Alexander: We monitor political and economic developments in Venezuela closely, including on land reform. We have consistently underlined to the Venezuelan Government the importance of ensuring that land reform policies are transparent and consistent with Venezuela's domestic and international legal commitments. The Venezuelan Government have informed us that there is no distinction in their land reform policy between foreign-owned land and that owned by Venezuelans.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Business Fraud

23. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Solicitor-General when she next expects to meet representatives of small business organisations to discuss Government measures to tackle fraudulent schemes aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises. [223622]

The Solicitor-General: I met with representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses and representatives of the CPS and SFO in March 2004. If the Federation would find another meeting helpful, I would be willing to consider this.

Iraq

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Solicitor-General what recent representations she has received on publishing the Attorney-General's advice on the legality of the war in Iraq. [223620]

The Solicitor-General: Since 1 January 2005, my office has received 20 requests for disclosure of the Attorney-General's advice on the legality of military action against Iraq from MPs, journalists and members of the public.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Election Participation

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what recent representations have been received by the commission on increasing participation in elections among young women. [223712]

Mr. Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has not received any recent representations on increasing participation in elections among young women. It has, however, commissioned and published research in this area—Gender and political participation"; conducted four educational workshops
 
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specifically for young women; and its New Initiatives Fund has supported five projects specifically aimed at raising young women's participation in politics. The commission also has a programme of community outreach to increase electoral participation among young people in general, and runs two annual student campaigns in partnership with the National Union of Students.

Postal Votes

Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if, pursuant to his oral answer of 21 March 2005, Official Report, column 597, to the hon. Member for Colchester, he will make a further statement about registration levels for postal votes in Newcastle, Cardiff and Stevenage. [224240]

Mr. Viggers: In my response to the hon. Member for Colchester on 21 March 2005, Official Report, column 597, I stated that I had been advised that

"in some areas, such as Newcastle, Cardiff and Stevenage, some 50 per cent. of voters have registered for postal votes".

That information had been given to me orally earlier that day at a briefing on this question by a representative of the Electoral Commission.

I am now informed by the commission that this information was incorrect as regards the position in Newcastle and Cardiff. Following contact with the relevant electoral registration officers, the commission has advised me that while the current percentage of voters registered for postal votes in Stevenage is indeed around 50 per cent., the correct figures for Newcastle and Cardiff are around 41 per cent. and 14 per cent. respectively. Although the general point that I was illustrating with these figures—that postal voting is now very widespread—remains valid, I regret that the incorrect information I had been given led me to give the House an inaccurate picture of the current position in Newcastle and Cardiff.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Diet (Educational Attainment)

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made of the relationship between educational achievement and diet. [223608]

Margaret Hodge: The Department for Education and Skills has made no assessment of the relationship between educational achievement and diet. However, a healthy, balanced diet is a key factor in protecting health and promoting children's proper growth and development. It may help children and young people to improve their concentration, but the evidence at present is anecdotal.

Vocational Training

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she next expects to visit Essex to discuss vocational skills training. [223611]

 
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Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have no immediate plans to visit Essex. However, as the hon. Member will be aware we have recently published a Skills White Paper, Getting on in Business, Getting on at Work, which will further enhance vocational skills development.

Further Education

Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has for charging for 16 to 19 further education courses. [223613]

Dr. Howells: None. We have no such plans. Through the Learning and Skills Act 2000 we have created an entitlement to education or training for all young people under the age of 19. To ensure this entitlement is genuine and encourages access we have ensured young people pay no tuition fees or similar charges. We have further extended this entitlement to include part-time learners and to cover registration and examination fees.

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