---

27 Feb 2006 : Column 286W—continued

Wildlife Management/TB

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will publish the details of the citizens' panel for the public consultation on wildlife management and related TB issues; [52292]

(2) which research agency is organising the citizens' panel for the public consultation on wildlife management and related TB issues. [52293]

Mr. Bradshaw: It is not normal practice to publish details of citizens' panels while they are running. We will publish a report on our use of the panels at the end of the current consultation period, alongside information on other respondents' views. The report will include details of research outcomes and the methodology used.
 
27 Feb 2006 : Column 287W
 

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many opium seizures have been made (a) in Afghanistan and (b) on Afghan borders since UK forces took control of the international community's efforts to stop the flow of drugs from Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [51576]

Dr. Howells: UK forces have not taken control of the international community's efforts to stop the flow of drugs from Afghanistan. The UK is lead international nation on counter-narcotics in Afghanistan, working with the Government of Afghanistan and international community in support of the Afghan National Drug Control Strategy. Several international partners lead in related areas such as policing (Germany), justice (Italy) and disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration (Japan).

For information on seizure figures, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his right hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) on 7 February 2006, Official Report, column 1042W.

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the membership of the Afghan Drugs Interdepartmental Unit. [53096]

Dr. Howells: The Afghan Drugs Inter-Departmental Unit (ADIDU), based in the UK, and the British Embassy Drugs Team (BEDT) based in Afghanistan, were set up to co-ordinate UK counter narcotics activity in Afghanistan. They work closely with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to support the Government of Afghanistan implement the Afghan National Drug Control Strategy.

Both ADIDU and BEDT include staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), HM Revenue and Customs, Department for International Development, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence. ADIDU is headed by a member of the FCO's senior management structure. ADIDU is overseen by a stakeholder group. This group is chaired by the FCO's director for Afghanistan and South Asia directorate and comprises one member, mostly at director level, from each of the stakeholder departments and the Cabinet Office. BEDT is overseen by our ambassador to Afghanistan.

Antonio Quatraro

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government holds information relating to the death of Commission official Antonio Quatraro. [53439]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Government are aware of reports that Antonio Quatraro, an Italian European Commission official, committed suicide in April 1993. An EU Court of Auditors investigation had identified Quatraro as being responsible for a processed tobacco sales racket.

However, the Government are not aware of further information relating to his death.
 
27 Feb 2006 : Column 288W
 

Arctic

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards Canadian sovereignty in Arctic waters. [53277]

Ian Pearson: The UK recognises Canadian sovereignty over its territorial waters as declared under the auspices of the UN convention on the Law of the Sea.

Baghdad Ambassador

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) transcript and (b) any other note taken of the press conference held by Her Majesty's ambassador in Baghdad on 7 February. [52511]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 16 February 2006]: Her Majesty's ambassador in Baghdad did not hold a press conference on 7 February. He did hold a briefing for local Iraqi media at the British embassy on 6 February. We do not make transcripts of such briefings, but an informal contemporaneous summary of the briefing was made by an embassy official. I will place a copy in the Library of the House.

Bangladesh

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provision is made by the high commission in Dhaka for monitoring the state of human rights in Bangladesh. [54172]

Dr. Howells: Monitoring and promoting democracy, good governance and human rights are key objectives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) work in Bangladesh. The British high commission in Dhaka monitors human rights issues closely including through regular contacts with human rights non-governmental organisations. The high commissioner and other officials raise issues of concern on a regular basis with Ministers and officials of the Government of Bangladesh. A multidisciplinary team of UK and locally engaged staff in the high commission work on a broad range of human rights based projects and initiatives in support of FCO objectives.

Belarus

Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to encourage free and fair presidential elections in Belarus on 19 March 2006. [53219]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Government continue to press the Belarusian authorities to hold free and fair elections, both bilaterally and with EU partners. At the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in November 2005, the EU called for the Belarusian Government to issue an early invitation to an Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) electoral observation mission and stated the Council's willingness to take appropriate restrictive measures in the event of a failure to uphold international standards. The EU reaffirmed its position
 
27 Feb 2006 : Column 289W
 
at the GAERC in January 2006. The UK will provide 10 per cent. of all short and long-term observers for the ODIHR election mission.

Brazil

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the results of efforts to reduce corruption in Brazil. [52199]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: We believe that the Government of Brazil recognises the scale of corruption in the country and is committed to tackling it. Strong legislation exists to deal with cases of corruption. There have been several notable high profile prosecutions in recent months—though major challenges remain. The UK maintains a close dialogue with the Brazilian Government on these issues. In particular, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Global Opportunities Fund is funding a major three-year anti-corruption programme in partnership with the Brazilian Government's Controller General's Office.

Burma

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UK will table a binding resolution to the United Nations Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter requiring the Government of Burma to implement a plan for national reconciliation, human rights and democracy. [52028]

Ian Pearson: We fully support any action in the United Nations (UN), including in the UN Security Council, which would help to promote reform and positive change in Burma. Members of the UN Security Council discussed the situation in Burma during informal consultations on 16 December. At present there is no consensus within the security council, including among the permanent members, to add Burma to the council's formal agenda, which is a pre-requisite for adopting a resolution.

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public have written to the Government regarding United Nations Security Council intervention in Burma; [52213]

(2) how many letters, postcards and e-mails the Government have received in the past five years regarding banning British companies from investing in Burma. [52214]

Ian Pearson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold centrally collated figures for all inquiries about Burma or specific issues concerning Burma.

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of his Department regarding the sourcing of goods from Burma. [52215]

Ian Pearson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) policy on the procurement of goods and services is based on value for money, having due regard to propriety and regularity and ensuring full compliance with the EU public procurement directive and other regulatory requirements. The directive promotes equal
 
27 Feb 2006 : Column 290W
 
treatment, transparency and competitive procurement as well as prohibiting discrimination on grounds of nationality. We are not aware of any goods for the FCO in London being sourced from Burma.

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings the Foreign Secretary has had with the Burmese Government in exile in each of the past three years. [54444]

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no meetings with representatives of the Burmese Government in exile in the past three years.

However, Dr. Michael Williams, as special adviser to the Foreign Secretary, met Dr. Sein Win and Dr. Thaung Htun of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma in June 2005 and the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister, Mr. O'Brien met Dr. Sein Win in March 2004.

Officials are in regular contact with representatives of the Burmese democratic opposition.

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government has made an assessment of the safety of British tourists using Burmese airlines. [54447]

Ian Pearson: We have not made a formal assessment of domestic Burmese airlines. However, we consider that the internal carrier Myanmar Airlines has a poor safety record.

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to India regarding the sale of British aircraft to Burma. [54460]

Dr. Howells: The UK fully implements the EU embargo on exporting arms and military-related equipment to Burma. In this context, we requested further information from the Indian Government regarding a possible export of British manufactured aircraft to Burma.

The Indian authorities informed us they intended to gift a small number of Islander" aircraft to the Burmese navy, for humanitarian tasks on Burma's island territories. They stressed that these aircraft were entirely unarmed. The Indian Government took note of our concerns.

---