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18 Apr 2006 : Column 86W—continued

Nigeria

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with counterparts in the Nigerian Government on a proposed amendment to the Constitution which will allow President Obasanjo to seek a third Presidential term; and if he will make a statement. [62824]

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Nigeria from 13 to 15 February and had the opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues with senior Nigerians, including President Obasanjo. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said publicly during his visit that Constitutional change is a matter for the Nigerians and that we will continue to support the Nigerian Government's reform programme.

Official Engagements

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list his official engagements undertaken on 21 March 2006; for which such engagements the ministerial car was used; and if he will make a statement. [61579]

Mr. Straw: Use of my official vehicles is in line with the Ministerial Code on Travel (copy in Library of the House).

For reasons of security all journeys in respect of any of my public duties (including non-ministerial ones) and almost every private journey are undertaken in official vehicles.

Palestinian Authority

Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the steps being taken by the Palestinian Authority to protect foreign nationals and property in Gaza and the West Bank. [60499]

Dr. Howells: We were grateful for the steps taken by Palestinian security services to provide a safe exit for foreign nationals on 14 and 15 March. However, we are extremely concerned by the failure of the Palestinian Authority to take action against kidnappers or provide adequate protection for buildings connected with western interests in the West Bank and Gaza. It is disappointing that facilities designed to aid and support the Palestinian people, such as the library provided by the British Council, have been destroyed. We hope to re-open these facilities as soon as possible.

Peru

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcome of the Peruvian presidential election; and if he will make a statement. [62130]


 
18 Apr 2006 : Column 87W
 

Dr. Howells: The Peruvian Presidential election is scheduled to take place on 9 April. We are following the election campaign with close attention with a particular focus on the possible implications for our interests, including the substantial UK investments in the country. Whatever the outcome, we hope that we can continue to enjoy close and friendly relations with Peru.

Raoul Wallenberg

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to obtain from the Swedish Government as much information as is in their possession about the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg. [63054]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Swedish Government have been very open on this matter.

In 2001, a joint Swedish-Russian working group concluded a 10-year investigation into the fate of Raoul Wallenberg. The reports from both the Swedish and Russian sides are freely available on the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/3105/a/l8447;jsessionid=aQgqvmN_L6g6). In this process, the Swedish Government also made public about 60,000 pages on the case of Mr. Wallenberg.

In 2003, a report into the Swedish Foreign Ministry's handling of the case was published. It is available with an English summary at http://www.regeringen.se/content/l/c4/14/55/eea4918e.pdf

In addition, the Reference Group for Support to Independent Research on Raoul Wallenberg, established by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in April 2002, twice a year allocates and approves funds for independent research projects on Mr. Wallenberg.

In light of the aforementioned, we have no plans to press the Swedish Government for further information on this matter.
 
18 Apr 2006 : Column 88W
 

Religious Freedom Panel

Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a meeting of the Religious Freedom Panel was held in March. [63327]

Ian Pearson: Yes. The panel met on Thursday 23 March.

Rendition

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2006, Official Report, column 86W, on rendition, whether the requirement for permission is a legal requirement; and from which domestic and international law it derives. [61538]

Dr. Howells: The requirement is a legal one and is an aspect of the principle of State sovereignty over territory.

Royal Visits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Queen has to visit (a) Commonwealth nations and (b) Overseas Territories. [62967]

Mr. Straw: At present, there are no immediate plans for Her Majesty the Queen to visit either Commonwealth countries or Overseas Territories, although we do of course envisage future visits. The Queen has recently returned from attending the Commonwealth Games in Australia and a State Visit to Singapore. In the previous 12 months, the Queen has visited Canada (May 2005) and Malta (November 2005).

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits have been made by members of the Royal Family to (a) Canada, (b) Australia, (c) New Zealand, (d) Gibraltar and (e) the Falkland Islands in the last five years. [63026]

Mr. Straw: Our records show the following visits by members of the Royal Family to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands in the last five years.
Her Majesty the QueenCountry visitedType of visit
200222–27 FebruaryNew ZealandRoyal
200227 February to 2 MarchAustraliaRoyal
20022–3 MarchAustraliaOfficial the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
20024–15 OctoberCanadaRoyal
200517–25 MayCanadaRoyal
200612- 6 MarchAustraliaRoyal

His Royal Highness the Duke of EdinburghCountry visitedType of visit
200119–21 OctoberCanadaWorking
200227 February to 2 MarchAustraliaRoyal—with HM the Queen
20022–3 MarchAustraliaOfficial (CHOGM)—Royal—with HM the Queen
20024–15 OctoberCanadaRoyal—with HM the Queen
200426–27 AprilCanadaWorking
200517–25 MayCanadaRoyal—with HM the Queen
200612–16 MarchAustraliaRoyal—with HM the Queen

 
18 Apr 2006 : Column 89W
 

His Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales

Country visited

Type of visit
200125 April to 2 MayAustraliaRoyal
200528 February to MarchAustraliaRoyal
20056–10 MarchNew ZealandRoyal

His Royal Highness
Prince William

Country visited

Type of visit
200530 June to 10 JulyNew ZealandRoyal

His Royal Highness
Prince Harry

Country visited

Type of visit
200323 September to 20 DecemberAustraliaPrivate

His Royal Highness
the Duke of York

Country visited

Type of visit
200114–17 DecemberCanadaPrivate
20026–17 JanuaryAustraliaPrivate
20028–11 NovemberFalkland IslandsOfficial
20036–13 MayCanadaRoyal
200312–18 JuneCanadaRoyal
200523–28 SeptemberAustraliaPrivate
200528 September to 2 OctoberNew ZealandRegimental

His Royal Highness
the Earl of Wessex

Country visited

Type of visit
20012–9 AugustCanadaWorking
200130 August to 1 SeptemberGibraltarWorking
20025–8 SeptemberCanadaWorking
200220–24 SeptemberCanadaWorking
200222–29 NovemberAustraliaWorking
200316–25 JuneCanadaWorking
200413–22 MarchNew ZealandRoyal
200531 May to 8 JuneCanadaWorking
200610–28 MarchAustraliaRoyal

Her Royal Highness
the Princess Royal

Country visited

Type of visit
20023–11 FebruaryNew ZealandWorking
200329 August to 2 SeptemberCanadaWorking
200313–30 OctoberAustralia and
New Zealand
Working
20044–8 JuneCanadaRoyal
200428–30 JuneGibraltarOfficial

His Royal Highness
the Duke of Kent

Country visited

Type of visit
20014–9 AprilCanadaWorking
200119–22 OctoberCanadaRegimental

His Royal Highness
the Duke of Gloucester

Country visited

Type of visit
20042–17 FebruaryNew ZealandPrivate









 
18 Apr 2006 : Column 90W
 

Her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Gloucester

Country visited

Type of visit
200423 January to 2 FebruaryAustraliaWorking
20042–17 FebruaryNew ZealandPrivate

His Royal Highness
Prince Michael of Kent

Country visited

Type of visit
200213–25 MarchCanadaWorking
200221–25 JuneCanadaPrivate
200331 July to 6 AugustCanadaPrivate
200413–18 OctoberCanadaPrivate

Her Royal Highness
Princess Michael of Kent
Country
visited

Type of visit
200221–25 JuneCanadaPrivate—With HRH
Prince Michael of Kent
200331 July to 6 AugustCanadaPrivate—With HRH
Prince Michael of Kent

Her Royal Highness
the Countess of Wessex
Country
visited

Type of visit
200531 May to 8 JuneCanadaWorking—With HRH the
Earl of Wessex


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