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Interrogation

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what inquiries his Department has made of the use of sensory deprivation as an interrogation technique in foreign countries; whether his Department's travel advice for such countries takes account of such practices where there is sound evidence that they are carried out; and if he will make a statement. [38820]

Dr. Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) takes a keen interest in the security and human rights situations in foreign countries. The FCO's travel advice is produced on the basis of all available information relating to risks to British nationals in the country concerned. These will include risks from crime, terrorism and traffic accidents, as well as any other key relevant concerns.

Iran

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the E3 have had with Iran since 20 December 2005; and if he will make a statement. [40420]

Dr. Howells: E3/EU officials met an Iranian delegation in Vienna on 21 December 2005. The aim was to explore the scope for re-establishing an acceptable
 
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framework under which negotiations on long-term arrangements for Iran's nuclear programme might resume. The E3/EU pressed Iran to take steps that would build international confidence that its nuclear programme is for solely peaceful purposes and to address in full the requests of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors. The two sides agreed to hold a further exploratory meeting in January.

Israeli Activities (West Bank)

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors underlay the decision at the recent EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels not to publish the report by the British Consulate in Jerusalem on Israel's expansionist activities in East Jerusalem and the West Bank; and if he will make a statement. [39875]

Dr. Howells: As my right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said after the 12 December 2005 General Affairs and External Relations Council,

we discussed the EU analysis on East Jerusalem submitted to Ministers by heads of mission in the region as well as by various committees here in Brussels. We decided given the changed circumstances in Israel and the Occupied Territories that this would not be endorsed or published and instead that we would continue to make strong representations to the Government of Israel about the matter."

Jamaica

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Jamaica on the legality of homosexuality. [40553]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: There has been no recent discussion of the issue but our position is well-known. Homosexuality is not illegal in Jamaica, although the country's sodomy laws criminalise certain sexual acts. The Jamaican Deputy Education Minister recently proposed a parliamentary debate on the possible repeal of the relevant legislation. The Government continue to monitor the situation and would welcome such a debate.

Kenya

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Kenya on (a) tackling corruption and (b) promoting good governance. [40534]

Ian Pearson: The British High Commissioner in Nairobi met with President Kibaki on 7 November. On Friday 25 November they met again, along with the High Commissioner's US, Canadian and Swedish colleagues.

Governance issues were discussed as well as the outcome of the referendum vote on the draft constitution on 21 November. The referendum was professionally and fairly administered and the outcome promptly accepted by the President, an important step for democratic accountability in Kenya. At the meeting on 25 November we highlighted the opportunity before the President to constitute a government that was committed to reforms, implementing services and acting against corruption.
 
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John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the defeat of the proposed new constitution in Kenya in November. [40551]

Ian Pearson: In a referendum on a new constitution held on 21 November, 57 per cent. of the Kenyan electorate rejected the draft. As noted in a statement issued on 24 November by a number of diplomatic missions in Nairobi, the Electoral Commission of Kenya conducted a professional referendum process, the outcome of which was accepted by the Kenyan people and the President.

On 23 November President Kibaki dissolved his cabinet. On 7 December he announced a new team having declared the need for a more cohesive, balanced cabinet, better placed to deliver services and broad based development. Although this process is still on-going, we believe President Kibaki has a renewed opportunity to commit his government to on-going reform and the drive against corruption.

Northern Cyprus

Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the purchase and development by British citizens of misappropriated land in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [39408]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Government warn British citizens of the risks of purchasing property in northern Cyprus that arise from the international community's non-recognition of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", the property implications of any future settlement and the claims to ownership of Cypriots displaced in 1974.

We further warn British citizens that they may face legal proceedings in the Cypriot courts and elsewhere in the EU, including the UK. The Government strongly advises British citizens to seek independent legal advice. This information is publicly available through our Travel Advice on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website (www.fco.gov.uk) and given in response to all inquiries.

Norway (Whaling)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Norwegian Government regarding cleaning up of Norwegian former whaling stations in South Georgia. [40758]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: In April 2003 the Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands visited Norway to discuss this matter with the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment and the Directorate for Cultural Heritage. There have been a number of discussions since. Norway has not been involved in environmental clean-up work on South Georgia, but the Ministry of the Environment signalled last year its intention to contribute to projects for preserving the cultural heritage of its whaling activities on the Island. As a contribution to this work, last June the Norwegian County of Vestfold pledged £50,000.
 
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Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has put forward names of British women to the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues to the Secretary General to be placed on the central roster of candidates in accordance with Article 3 of the Security Council Resolution 1325. [39307]

Ian Pearson: The UK Mission to the United Nations in New York has forwarded the CVs of 11 British women, received from the Women's National Commission, to the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues (OSAGI). OSAGI has contacted successful applicants direct.

Orhan Pamuk

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Turkey on the prosecution of Orhan Pamuk; [40428]

(2) what assessment he has made of the implications of the prosecution of Orhan Pamuk for Turkish membership of the EU. [40494]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in another place by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, on 20 December to the noble Lord Judd (HL2879).

Public Relations Companies

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the public relations companies that have had contracts with (a) his Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible and (c) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by his Department and other such organisations since May 1997. [39066]

Mr. Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, its Diplomatic Missions overseas and its non-departmental public bodies occasionally employ public relations companies but details are not recorded centrally. To provide a breakdown listing individual PR contracts signed by the Department and the bodies for which it is responsible could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

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