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Visas

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when UKvisas will provide the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) with the reply dated 11 October 2006 about the case of Mr. K. H. (reference GV100/095780/SU) referred to in the answer of 16 October 2006, Official Report, column 965W. [103698]

Dr. Howells: A second copy of UKvisas reply of 11 October to the hon. Member for Aylesbury was faxed to his office on 22 November.

Work Experience Placements

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which regions those on work experience placements in her Department resided in each of the last five years. [100702]

Mr. Hoon: In 2006, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offered work experience placements to 48 candidates. They resided in the following regions:

Number

South East

27

South West

7

Wales

1

Midlands

6

North East

2

North West

1

Scotland

3

Northern Ireland

0

Channel Islands

1


In 2005, the FCO offered work experience placements to 25 candidates.


27 Nov 2006 : Column 488W
Number

South East

14

South West

3

Wales

1

Midlands

3

North East

1

North West

1

Scotland

1

Northern Ireland

1


The FCO information management system does not hold information on the regional location of work experience candidates prior to 2005. Details on the number of candidates placed each year since 2001 are listed for reference.

Number

2004

33

2003

30

2002

39

2001

52


The majority of the schemes operated by the FCO are open to applicants from across the United Kingdom and are selected on merit following fair and open competition.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reasons were cited for Zimbabwe’s expulsion from the Commonwealth; under what conditions or circumstances the country would be readmitted; and if she will make a statement. [102612]

Mr. McCartney: Zimbabwe was not expelled from the Commonwealth. It was Mugabe’s decision to withdraw completely in 2003 after Zimbabwe was suspended by Commonwealth Heads of Government in 2002 for failing against the key principles of good governance, enshrined in the Commonwealth’s Harare Declaration of 1991. These include the right to free and fair elections and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

Like all our partners we look forward to the day when a democratic Zimbabwe can rejoin the Commonwealth should it apply to do so. But currently Mugabe pursues policies which hurt rather than help ordinary Zimbabweans. We urge the Government of Zimbabwe to change course by choosing policies that ensure full respect for the Harare Declaration, economic stability and development in Zimbabwe, not humanitarian misery.


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