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Recreational Drugs

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated concerning the effects of using Viagra as a recreational drug along with amyl nitrates. [5852]

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.

Before a medicine can be marketed in the United Kingdom, the manufacturer is required to conduct extensive clinical trials, the results of which are carefully evaluated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on behalf of the Licensing Authority. The Licensing Authority decides whether a marketing authorisation (product licence) can be granted and is advised on this matter by an independent advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines. As independent experts, they undertake a thorough examination of the extensive scientific and technical information supplied in support of the application.
 
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The manufacturer, in conjunction with the Licensing Authority, has provided guidance on prescribing and use of Viagra in the summary of product characteristics for healthcare professionals and patient information leaflet (PIL) for patients. These documents provide full up-to-date information on correct use of Viagra, including contraindicating (prohibiting) the use of Viagra in combination with nitrates. The PIL states:

"Do not take Viagra if you are taking medicines containing nitrates, or nitric oxide donors such as amyl nitrite ("poppers"). Viagra can cause a serious increase in the effects of these medicines. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines."

CABINET OFFICE

DirectGov

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the launch of the DirectGov internet portal for Government services. [7897]

Mr. Jim Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. Reed) on 28 June 2005, Official Report, column 1387W.

Laptop Computers

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many laptop computers have been used by (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many have been (i) lost and (ii) stolen in that period; what the cost was of the use of laptops in that period; and if he will make a statement. [4125]

Mr. Hutton: The number of laptops used, lost and stolen in the Department in the period 2000 to 2004 are shown in the table.

	Number used	Number lost	Number stolen
2000	222	0	0
2001	540	0	1
2002	629	0	0
2003	731	6	3
2004	813	2	4

In addition the Cabinet Office Ministerial Support Group currently has a pool of 12 laptops for the use of Ministers, special advisers and officials within the group.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Antarctic Consultative Meeting (Swedish Proposal)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy positions the Government advocated at the 28th Antarctic Consultative Meeting, with particular reference to the Swedish proposal regarding the remedying of pollution. [5879]

Mr. Douglas Alexander [holding answer 20 June 2005]: A new annex on Liability Arising from Environmental Emergencies to the Protocol on
 
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Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was adopted at the 28th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, held this year in Stockholm from 6 to 17 June 2005.

This new annex has been the subject of negotiations among Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties for the past 12 years. The UK has been actively and constructively engaged in all negotiations and is fully committed to the implementation of the new annex.

UK-led initiatives on other issues that were agreed in Stockholm included Site Guidelines for Visitors to Antarctica and a Management Plan for Deception Island.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prevalence of provocative nationalism by local authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [6738]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: Nationalist sentiments among all three constituent peoples in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) continue to obstruct the reform process, notably on public broadcasting, police restructuring and defence reform, all of which are requirements for BiH's further progress towards the European Union and NATO. We have made representations to the Bosnian authorities about the need to tackle this problem.

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, it is important that the constituent peoples of BiH and all the countries of the region turn away once and for all from nationalism and work to promote lasting reconciliation.

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the rate of return of displaced groups to their homes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [6739]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) figures, the rate of return of displaced persons to their pre-war homes has dropped in the last five years, as most of those willing to return have now done so. The overall number of returns has. however, continued to increase slowly. By September last year, a million refugees and displaced people had returned to their homes, from an estimated 2.2 million displaced by the conflict of the 1990s.

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the segregation of minority returnees in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [6740]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: Of the approximately one million refugees and displaced people who had returned to their pre-war homes by January 2005, over 450,000 had returned to areas where they were not the ethnic majority. But there is more work to be done. Some minority returnees still face discrimination in access to jobs in public services and private employment and to education, health and social security. The failure to bring to justice all war crimes indictees has also reduced confidence in the return process. Economic development remains a priority to ensure the sustainable return of minority returnees.
 
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Burma

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the Burmese authorities on encouraging increased democracy in Burma; and if he will make a statement. [7907]

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) on 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 132W.

Burundi

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government provides to the Regional Peace Initiative for Burundi; and if he will make a statement. [7362]

Ian Pearson: The Regional Peace Initiative for Burundi (RPI) is chaired by Ugandan President Museveni and comprises representatives of the Governments of Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa and Tanzania. The Government of Burundi, the African Union and the UN are party to its discussions. It meets on an ad hoc basis.

The UK and EU partners provide political support to the RPI, and provide development support to Burundi in order to help it carry out the recommendations of the RPI. Total UK development assistance to Burundi in financial year 2005–06 will be around £10 million.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch Presidency of the EU the (i) Joint Committee (EEC-India), (ii) Joint Committee (EC-Laos) and (iii) Joint Committee (EEC-Macao) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [573]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The EEC-India Joint Committee met once under the Dutch Presidency on 10 September 2004 in Brussels. It did not meet under the Italian or Irish Presidencies.

The EEC-Laos Joint Committee met once under the Irish Presidency on 7 Jan 2004 in Vientiane. It did not meet under the Italian and Dutch Presidencies. The EEC-Macao Joint Committee met once under the Irish Presidency on 3 March 2004 in Macao. It did not meet during the Italian or Dutch Presidencies. These are Commission led groups, which the Presidency of the day attends as observers only, representing other member states. As such there were no British officials present at these meetings.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the (i) EEC-Mercosur Joint Advisory Committee, (ii) Joint Committee (EEC-Argentina) and (iii) Joint Committee (EEC-Brazil) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [627]

 
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Mr. Douglas Alexander: The EEC-Mercosur Joint Advisory Committee did not meet under the Italian, Irish or Dutch presidencies. The EEC Argentina Joint Committee met once during the Dutch presidency on 13 December 2004 in Buenos Aires. The UK was represented by staff of the British embassy in Buenos Aires. It did not meet under the Italian or Irish presidencies. The EEC-Brazil Joint Committee did not meet during the Italian, Irish or Dutch presidencies.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the (i) Joint Committee (EEC-Vietnam), (ii) Joint Committee (EEC-Central America) and (iii) Joint Committee (EEC-Mexico) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [632]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The EEC-Vietnam Joint Committee met once during the Italian presidency on 21 November 2003 in Brussels. This is a Commission led group, which the presidency of the day attends as observer only, representing other member states. As such there were no British officials present at these meetings. It did not meet under the Irish or Dutch presidencies of the EU. The EEC-Central America Joint Committee met once during the Italian presidency on 3 October 2003 in Brussels. The UK was represented by staff from the UK representation in Brussels. It did not meet under the Irish or Dutch presidencies. The EEC-Mexico Joint Committee met twice, once under the Italian presidency on 11 November 2003 in Brussels and once during the Dutch presidency on 10 November 2004 in Mexico. The UK was represented at the 2003 meeting by staff from the UK representation in Brussels and at the 2004 meeting by staff from the British embassy in Mexico City. It did not meet during the Irish presidency.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the (i) Joint Committee (EEC-Nepal), (ii) Joint Committee (EEC-Pakistan) and (iii) Joint Committee (EEC-Sri Lanka) met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if he will make a statement. [635]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The EEC-Nepal Joint Committee met once under the Dutch presidency in September 2004 in Kathmandu. It did not meet under the Italian or Irish presidencies. The EEC-Pakistan Joint Committee did not meet under the Italian. Irish or Dutch presidencies. The EEC-Sri Lanka Joint Committee met once under the Dutch presidency on 29 October 2004 in Brussels. No meetings took place during the Italian or Irish presidencies. These are Commission led groups, which the presidency of the day attends as observers only, representing other member states. As such there were no British officials present at these meetings.

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