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Foreign Travel (Health and Safety)

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens have (a) died and (b) been seriously injured as a result of crowd action or stampedes surrounding the annual Hajj to Saudi Arabia in each of the last 20 years. [51542]

Dr. Howells: We are unable to provide definitive figures for the number of British Nationals killed as a result of crowd action or stampedes at the Hajj in the last 20 years as our consular records do not list deaths by this category. Generally, we also only have records of those cases in which consular assistance has been sought and only keep these for three years after our last action on the case. We are aware, however, of three British Nationals who died as a result of the stampede at Mina on 11 January 2006. Consular staff in Jeddah and in London provided the families of the three with assistance, and were also aware of a further two British Nationals who suffered minor injuries.
 
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Gibraltar

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the precise location is of the wreck of HMS Sussex off the coast of Gibraltar; and whether this site is in international waters. [50540]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The wreck, which we believe could be The Sussex, lies in the Straits of Gibraltar. We cannot give exact details of its location due to concerns about the security of the wreck, but it lies outside British Gibraltar territorial waters in international waters.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the British Government have not claimed the 12 nautical miles on the eastern shoreline of Gibraltar to which it is entitled under the UN law of the sea convention. [50541]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: Under international law, States are entitled, but not required, to extend their territorial sea up to a maximum breadth of 12 nautical miles. Where the coasts of two States are opposite or adjacent, the general rule is that neither is entitled, unless they agree otherwise, to extend its territorial sea beyond the median line. The UK Government considers that a limit of three nautical miles is sufficient in the case of Gibraltar.

Gulf of Aden (Trafficking)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) illegal trafficking of (i) arms, (ii) people and (iii) cigarettes across the Gulf of Aden and (b) the implications of trafficking on the funding of terrorism; and if he will make a statement. [51423]

Dr. Howells: The Gulf of Aden is used for illegal trafficking, but because of its clandestine nature it is impossible to make an accurate assessment of the scale of trafficking. The UK provides substantial support and training to the Yemeni coastguard to boost interdiction efforts.

We do not have any evidence of a systematic link between illegal trafficking of arms, people and cigarettes across the Gulf of Aden and the funding of terrorism.

India

Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government provides to religious freedom organisations in (a) Madhya Pradesh and (b) elsewhere in India. [51131]

Dr. Howells: None. However, through our High Commission in Delhi we provide support to some human rights groups whose activities include support for freedom of religion.

Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to meet representatives of the Indian government to discuss religious militant groups threatening Christian minorities. [51132]

Dr. Howells: None. However, the Deputy High Commissioner plans to meet the Minorities Commission in New Delhi, when he will raise concerns about freedom of worship for all minorities. Through our High
 
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Commission we regularly raise such concerns with non-governmental organisations and the relevant Indian authorities.

Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the (a) Indian government and (b) Madhya Pradesh State government on the attacks against minority Christians on 25 to 28 January in Madhya Pradesh. [51133]

Dr. Howells: None. However, through our High Commission in New Delhi we have regular contact with the Indian authorities in New Delhi and with non-governmental organisations and raise our general concerns about problems experienced by religious minorities in India.

International Arrest Warrants

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have received from officials from other countries on changes in the law on seeking international warrants for the arrest of people suspected of serious human rights abuses; and if he will list the countries which have made such representations. [50425]

Ian Pearson: The Government are currently considering a range of issues relating to the issuing of arrest warrants in international cases, but has not yet concluded what changes, if any, are required to current legislation. Any proposals for amending the current legislation would be a matter for Parliament. The Government have received representations from the Government of Israel. All views expressed, by both Governments and non-governmental organisations, will be considered during the Government's analysis of this issue.

Iran

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of sites in Iran that the Iranian Government are using in the research, development and production of nuclear technologies. [51385]

Dr. Howells: In its report of November 2004, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) identified 22 facilities at nine locations as being relevant to the implementation of Agency Safeguards". Under its voluntary implementation of the provisions of the additional protocol, Iran also declared a further four facilities at three additional locations.

In connection with its voluntary suspension of enrichment-related activities, Iran also notified the IAEA of a number of engineering facilities involved in domestic manufacture of uranium enrichment centrifuge components. The IAEA has in addition sought access to sites at Lavisan-Shian and Parchin to establish whether any nuclear-related activities have taken place there.

Further details can be found on the IAEA's website: www.iaea.org.
 
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Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has received of Iranian infiltration into southern Iraq. [51448]

Dr. Howells: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said, the nature of some explosive devices used in Iraq, including against British troops, leads us to suspect either Iranian elements or Lebanese Hezbollah. We are unable to provide further details as to do so could prejudice the capability, effectiveness, and security of the armed forces.

Kosovo

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of the recent statements made by senior British officials in Serbia on Kosovo's independence. [51578]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: A copy of the Contact Group Ministerial statement of 31 January has already been placed in the Library of the House. John Sawers, Political Director in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, made a number of comments to the press during his recent visit to the region. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today (UIN 51514). We do not hold formal transcripts of these.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conclusions the Contact Group has reached on the question of Kosovan independence. [51580]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: On 31 January, in the margins of the Afghanistan Conference, the Contact Group met in London to discuss Kosovo. Following this meeting, Contact Group Ministers issued a statement, which has been placed in the Library of the House.

The Contact Group in its 'Guiding Principles' ruled out options that would not contribute to long-term security and stability in Kosovo and the wider region. These included no partition of Kosovo and no union of Kosovo with any country or part of any country. These 'Guiding Principles' have also been placed in the Library of the House.

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