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Ukraine

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent election in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement. [63317]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: In its statement of 27 March, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights' International Election Observation Mission in Kiev described Ukraine's parliamentary elections held on 26 March as free and fair. We agree with this assessment.

Coming only 15 months after Ukraine's Orange Revolution", born itself out of a severely flawed presidential election this is a significant achievement. It represents a big step forward for democracy in Ukraine and the whole Commonwealth of Independent States region. It also marks an important stage in the evolution of Ukraine's relations with both the EU and NATO.

Ukraine's politicians are currently negotiating the formation of a coalition Government. Experience elsewhere in Europe shows that this can take some time. But whatever the complexion of the new Government, the UK stands ready to work with it in support of Ukraine's political and economic reform efforts.

UN Convention Against Torture

Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage national governments to sign the second optional protocol to the UN convention against torture; and if he will make a statement. [62859]

Ian Pearson: The UK is a committed supporter of the optional protocol to the UN convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (OPCAT). There is only one optional protocol at present. The UK ratified the OPCAT in 2003, becoming the first country in the European Union and third country in the world to do so.

In June 2004, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary launched a worldwide lobbying campaign to encourage other countries to sign and ratify the OPCAT. We continue to lobby in support of this and, through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's global opportunities fund, we are supporting the work of a non-governmental organisation, the Association for the Prevention of Torture, to promote ratification of the OPCAT around the world.

United States

Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list his meetings with US Administration official Caleb McCarry; and what the subjects of each meeting were. [63031]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has never met Mr. McCarry. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials, however, met Mr.McCarry in London on 7 November 2005, when he was on his way to a conference in Brussels where he met many European partners. The discussion focussed on UK/EU policy on Cuba, including ways of encouraging a process of peaceful transition to pluralist democracy in
 
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Cuba. The difference in UK/EU and US policy was also discussed. Mr. McCarry did not meet any Ministers during his visit.

The Government continue to meet regularly with many interlocutors on Cuba, including the US. This is in line with the EU's longstanding policy of constructive engagement in pursuit of a peaceful transition to pluralist democracy.

World Cup (Complimentary Tickets)

Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many complimentary tickets his Department has received for games taking place at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany. [63899]

Dr. Howells: FIFA has offered our ambassador in Berlin two World Cup 2006 tickets for each England game. In addition, he has been offered the opportunity to request one ticket for any other game.

World Heritage Sites

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Minister in his Department has responsibility for issues relating to World Heritage Sites. [63478]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: Lead responsibility for policy on World Heritage Sites rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works closely with relevant Government Departments on all issues affecting World Heritage Sites. Within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office there is no Minister of State with specific responsibility for World Heritage Sites. However, my hon. Friend the Minister of State for theMiddle East with responsibility for the UN, Kim Howells, and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs responsible for public diplomacy issues, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, have an interest in matters relating to World Heritage Sites.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the removal of the BBC World Service from Zimbabwe by the Zimbabwean Government; and what representations he has made to other governments on this subject. [62613]

Ian Pearson: Representations were made to the Government of Zimbabwe in 2001, when BBC World Service reporters were first removed. Our embassy in Harare lobbied the Government of Zimbabwe in 2004, demanding the BBC's accreditation during the English cricket tour of Zimbabwe, while in parallel, my right
 
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hon. Friend the then Minister for Europe (Denis MacShane) summoned the Zimbabwean ambassador on the same issue. My hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Chris Mullin) also protested directly to the Zimbabwean ambassador about the pre-election crackdown on the media, including a removal of a BBC journalist, in February 2005.

Most recently on 1 February, our embassy raised our concerns about the increasing restrictions and pressure on independent and foreign journalists with the Government of Zimbabwe. We also take every opportunity to raise our concerns about the lack of press freedom and respect for human rights in Zimbabwe with African leaders.

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK has taken to try to ensure that the government of Zimbabwe upholds Articles 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. [62614]

Ian Pearson: This Government take every opportunity to raise its concerns about the continued abuse of fundamental human rights by the government in Zimbabwe. We are working with the EU and other international partners to build pressure on the Zimbabwean government to respect its obligations, including upholding all the Articles enshrined in the UN Declaration on Human Rights.

We have succeeded in placing Zimbabwe on the UN Security Council agenda, and the EU recently rolled over sanctions for a further year, from February 2006, in response to the continued abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe.

The Government will continue to support those in Zimbabwe working for peaceful change in the country, and for the restoration of democratic accountability, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the South African Government on Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [63892]

Ian Pearson: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, discussed Zimbabwe with a range of South African Government leaders during his visit from 2–4 March.

Many African countries share our concerns about Zimbabwe and there is growing African frustration at the lack of positive change in Zimbabwe. We and our European partners will continue to work with African leaders in addressing Zimbabwe's problems, many of which have an impact on the wider region.
 
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DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Building Materials (Test Sites)

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether there are sites within the UK which are large enough to test how various building materials react when subject to (a) explosion and (b) full scale fire tests. [61800]

Yvette Cooper: There are a number of government and privately owned testing establishments in the UK that can undertake explosive blast and fire testing of building materials, components and even certain full size structures.

A considerable amount of valuable experimental work has been undertaken at these sites in the past in support of researches leading to the development of safe building structures.

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