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Colombia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Colombia about (a) tackling paramilitary forces and (b) ensuring that there is justice for the victims of violence. [26990]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: We have regular discussions with the Government of Colombia about the peace process. These discussions, which cover issues of truth, justice and reparation for victims of the internal armed conflict, are carried out between our Embassy in Bogota and the Government of Colombia. They are also covered during high level visits in both directions. For example, when President Uribe and Foreign Minister Barco were in the UK in July, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman of Tottenham) raised these important matters.

We support the efforts of the Government of President Uribe to bring an end to Colombia's inter-connected problems of internal armed conflict, illegal drugs trade and human rights abuses. We strongly believe that the only answer to these problems lies through a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Iran

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many requests the UK Government have made to Iran for the repatriation of Royal Navy equipment seized in the Shatt-Al-Arab; and how many responses it has had from the Iranian Government. [25661]

Dr. Howells: We have pressed the Iranian authorities on numerous occasions, at both ministerial and senior official level, in Tehran and London, to return the boats and equipment they have detained since June 2004. Our discussions are ongoing.

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the decision by the Government of Iran to replace diplomats regarded as being too liberal. [26771]

Dr. Howells: Media reports suggest that Iran's new Government may be making a number of changes to Iran's Ambassadors overseas. Such appointments are a matter for Iran.

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he proposes should be taken if Iran continues to develop nuclear weapons and delivery systems. [26845]

Dr. Howells: Iran's nuclear programme continues to be of serious concern. The EU has called on Iran to address the requests made in successive resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, including by reinstating a full suspension of all uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. We have also urged Iran to return to talks with the E3/EU on the basis of the Paris Agreement. At its last meeting, the IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution finding Iran to have been in non-compliance with its safeguards obligations under the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty. We have made clear
 
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to Iran that it can, by the actions it now decides to take, influence the timing and nature of the IAEA's report of this non-compliance to the United Nations Security Council. We will be consulting closely with major partners ahead of the next meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, which begins on 24 November.

Iraq

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received of Iranian involvement in supplying bomb technology used to attack British troop convoys in Iraq. [26843]

Dr. Howells: As a matter of routine, we examine weapons used against British Forces with a view to determine their origins. The nature of certain explosive devices used suggests a connection to elements linked to Iran or Lebanese Hizballah, which has close links to elements in Iran. We are withholding details on the grounds that to release it would prejudice the capability, effectiveness, and security of the armed forces.

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the possible involvement of Iran in bomb attacks on British troops in Iraq was revealed to the media by an official. [26844]

Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said the nature of certain explosive devices used against British and other troops suggests a connection to elements linked to Iran or Lebanese Hizballah, which has close links to elements in Iran. We have pressed Iran on many occasions to improve border security, fight terrorism and not to interfere in Iraq's internal affairs. The official was responding to media questions as part of a routine background briefing on Iraq.

IT Projects

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the IT projects costing over £1 million in use in his Department and introduced since 1997 have been scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee; and if he will list them. [26595]

Mr. Straw: Only one of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's IT projects has been scrutinised by the Public accounts committee since 1997. That project was Focus, which was scrutinised in April/May 2003 following cancellation of the Programme.

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many IT projects which cost over £1 million and were introduced since 1997 are in use in his Department. [26597]

Mr. Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has introduced 11 IT related programmes costing more than £1 million since 1997. In roughly chronological order: Firecrest, Minerva, the FCO Telecommunications Network, Prism, Focus, I-Con, I-Visas, the FCO website, Knowledge, Future Firecrest and the High Classification Programme. Each programme is made up of smaller projects. Some of these projects will have associated costs of £1 million or more. To identify each project will require in-depth investigation and therefore could be obtained only at
 
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disproportionate cost. Since introduction, the deliverables of each programme are still in use by the FCO.

Ivory Coast

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) UN reports that the Ivory Coast has begun rebuilding its airforce and (b) the implications of these reports for the maintenance of the ceasefire. [27014]

Ian Pearson: The situation in Co(r)te d'Ivoire remains fragile and the Government are concerned at any report of activities by either the Co(r)te d'Ivoire Government or rebels which could re-ignite conflict. United Nations Security Council resolutions 1572 and 1584 imposed an arms embargo on all parties involved in the conflict, to be closely monitored by the UN. A group of experts has recently submitted a report to the Security Council on the present state of the embargo. We and other Security Council members are now carefully considering this report. We would view with the utmost concern evidence of the Government of Co(r)te d'Ivoire rebuilding their airforce, which would clearly contravene the embargo and threaten the fragile ceasefire. We also strongly support recent efforts by the UN, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States to move the peace process forward following the postponed elections of 30 October.

Kosovo

Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Serbian Orthodox churches in Kosovo have been destroyed since KFOR's presence there; how many of the perpetrators have been (a) arrested and (b) convicted; and if he will make a statement. [27531]

Mr. Douglas Alexander [holding answer 14 November 2005]: Based on the information available to us, approximately 140 churches have been damaged or destroyed since 1999, 30 of them during the March 2004 violence. Charges have been pressed against 424 people following the March violence. Some of these relate to damage or destruction to churches. To date, 211 people have been convicted.

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Kosovo Provisional Institutions of Self Government (PISG) and the Serbian Orthodox Church, the PISG pledged €4.2 million to the reconstruction of Serbian Orthodox sites. In addition, the Kosovo Minister of Culture, Mr. Astrit Haraqija, pledged a further €1.5 million when he met the Serbian Minister of Culture, Mr. Dragan Kojadinovic, in Belgrade on 23 September 2005.

The Reconstruction Commission has begun to operate; 34 sites have been identified to receive aid. The Commission has begun work on 11 sites, and hopes to begin work on a further 19 sites by the end of this year.

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