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Water

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2006 to question reference 55456, on water, what sites have been considered for the proposed new water reservoir developments; and if she will make a statement. [59048]

Mr. Morley [holding answer 20 March 2006]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 March 2006, Official Report, column 2283W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Ascension Island

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government have had with the United States on granting (a) property ownership rights and (b) the right of abode on Ascension Island. [56871]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The administration of Ascension Island, including issues related to the right to own property and the right of abode, is a matter for the Government and Ascension Island Administration. There have not been talks in London or Washington between the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices and US Administration on these issues over the last two years. Officials visiting Ascension Island have had working level meetings with the US Base Commander on Ascension Island and the Administrator on
 
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Ascension has a regular fortnightly meeting with the US and UK Base Commanders. These meetings cover a wide range of administrative and technical issues.

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people living on Ascension Island do not have a work contract with one of the main users. [58894]

Mr. Douglas Alexander [holding answer 16 March 2006]: The main Users on Ascension Island are the Ascension Island Government; the UK Ministry of Defence and its contractors; the US Base and its contractors; BBC/VT Merlin; Cable and Wireless and the Composite Signals Organisation.

Leaving aside dependants of those with work contracts with one of these main Users, the authorities on Ascension Island inform us that they know of 27 adults on the Island who do not have a work contract with one of the main Users.

Departmental Wine Cellar

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on its wine cellar in each year since 1997. [60899]

Mr. Straw: The Government hospitality wine cellar is maintained on behalf of all Government Departments. Expenditure recorded for the years since 1997 on wines and spirits includes:

	£
1997–98	147,000
1998–99	103,278
1999–2000	84,794
2000–01	80,337
2001–02	92,772
2002–03	91,860
2003–04	93,503
2004–05	60,059
2005–06	95,264

Gambia

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) meetings and (b) telephone conversations took place during October to December 2002 between British officials and (i) US and (ii) Gambian officials where matters relating to (A)Bisher al Rawi, (B) Wahab al Rawi and (C) Jamil el Banna were discussed; and what matters were discussed on each occasion. [60601]

Dr. Howells: The issues raised are currently the subject of legal proceedings. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment at this time.

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what correspondence has been exchanged between British officials and (a) Gambian and (b) US officials where matters relating to (i) Bisher al Rawi, (ii) Wahab al Rawi and (iii)Jamil el Banna were mentioned. [60602]

 
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Dr. Howells: The issues raised are currently the subject of legal proceedings. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment at this time.

Iran

Mr. Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the possible threat posed to Israel by Iran if Iran proceeds to develop nuclear weapons. [60015]

Dr. Howells: The proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East would be deeply damaging for stability and security in the region and beyond, and for the multilateral non-proliferation system.

We have serious concerns about the nature of Iran's nuclear activities, its history of concealment and inadequate co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and its failure to take the steps requested by the IAEA Board. These have all contributed to the international community's lack of confidence that the aims of the Iranian nuclear programme are, as Iran claims, exclusively peaceful.

These concerns must also be seen in the context of Iran's ballistic missile programme, its attitude to Israel and the Middle East Peace Process, its links to Lebanese Hizballah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other groups undermining peace through violence.

It is therefore essential that Iran should meet in full the requests set out in the 4 February IAEA Board Resolution, including reinstating a full suspension of all enrichment related and reprocessing activities. We will intensify our efforts, with our partners, to that end.

Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his US counterparts on Iran's nuclear programme. [60968]

Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his US counterparts about Iran's nuclear programme. [60954]

Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions with his counterparts in the US. These discussions cover a wide range of issues, including Iran's nuclear programme. Senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are also in frequent contact with their US opposite numbers.

The International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors decided in its 4 February 2006 resolution that the Security Council should now become involved on the Iran nuclear issue. We are presently discussing with the US and other members of the Security Council possible next steps by the Security Council.

Israel

Mr. Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the reported statement by the government of Israel that they decided to enter the
 
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prison in Jericho only after the withdrawal of British and American monitors; and if he will make a statement. [60444]

Dr. Howells: We have not made an assessment of this statement.

Merlin Biosciences Ltd

Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has met (a) Sir Christopher Evans and (b) representatives of Merlin Biosciences Limited in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [61765]

Mr. Straw: I have not met Sir Christopher nor representatives of Merlin Biosciences in the past 12 months in my capacity as Foreign Secretary. I may have met him informally at receptions but there is no record of this.

Overseas Staff (Salary Costs)

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total salary cost was for his Department's staff based overseas in the last year for which figures are available; and what the cost of locally engaged staff employed overseas by his Department was in the same period. [61486]

Mr. Straw: The pay-bill for UK-based staff in 2004–05 was £231.7 million. The costs for UK-based staff serving overseas are not separately identified, but are estimated to be £112.2 million. The total salary cost for locally employed staff employed overseas by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2004–05 was £112.4 million.

Palestinian Authority

Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made by his Department to the Palestinian Authority about their breaches of the Ramallah Agreement prior to 8 March. [60497]

Dr. Howells: From 2002 onwards, we regularly raised our concerns to the Palestinian Authority (PA) about its failure to comply with the Ramallah Agreement. On 15 December 2005, our Deputy Head of Mission in Jerusalem informed the PA that unless security was improved, we would have to withdraw our monitors. We raised our concerns at least a further five times before delivering a UK/US letter to President Abbas on 8 March 2006.

Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the conditions under which Palestinian prisoners were being held in Jericho Prison by the Palestinian prison authorities. [60498]

Dr. Howells: The Palestinian Authority were responsible for the conditions under which the Palestinian prisoners were being held. The UK and US monitors' role was to monitor that the six Palestinian detainees were held in continuous seclusion.
 
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