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10 Oct 2007 : Column 676W—continued


Northern Cyprus: Churches

Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the condition of Greek Cypriot churches and cemeteries in northern Cyprus. [156201]


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Mr. Jim Murphy: Pending reunification, preserving the cultural heritage of Cyprus, including churches and cemeteries in northern Cyprus, remains an issue of great importance. More can and should be done in this regard, and I sympathise with all those affected. The UN, and also the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, are aware of this issue and we support them in their efforts to address the problem. The process envisaged by the 8 July Agreement would provide a framework in which the issue of preserving cultural heritage could be discussed and addressed by the two communities.

Serbia: International Whaling Commission

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Serbian Foreign Minister in London on 18 September on Serbia’s possible membership of the International Whaling Commission; and if he will make a statement. [156047]

Meg Munn: Although my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary’s meeting with the Serbian Foreign Minister covered a range of international issues, whaling was not discussed.

Uganda: Elections

Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the European Union Elections Observer Mission report on the 2006 elections in Uganda; what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on this report; what proposals he has made on this subject to his European counterparts ahead of the December EU-Africa summit; and if he will make a statement. [153786]

David Miliband: In July 2006, the EU election observer mission released its final report on the February 2006 elections. The report concluded that the elections fell short of full compliance with international principles for genuine democratic elections. However, the report also said that despite some shortcomings on election day, voting was generally well administered, transparent and competitive.

The UK, along with our EU partners, has a regular dialogue with the Government of Uganda on all aspects of developing multi-party democracy and engaging with the opposition, building towards the next elections, due to take place in 2011.

The report and recommendations were discussed in detail by EU Heads of Mission in Kampala, including with the Government of Uganda. We will continue to refer to it regularly in the run-up to the next elections. I have not had discussions on this issue with my EU counterparts. The agenda of the December EU-Africa summit has not been finalised. However, the UK supports the inclusion of a discussion of governance throughout Africa.

USA: Prince Charles

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether before Sir Michael Peat’s press conference on 26 June his Department
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was aware that the official gift given during the official visit to the USA in 2005 by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to President Bush had been selected and purchased by Michael Fawcett; and if he will make a statement. [156853]

Mr. Jim Murphy: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 26 July 2006, Official Report, column 1473W.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2007, Official Report, columns 49-50W, on the USA: Prince Charles, and with reference to the letter subsequently sent to the hon. Member for Thurrock on 16 May 2007, how much of the cost of gifts was spent purchasing the Churchill Book presented by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as an official present to President Bush; whether the reimbursement for its purchase was paid from the public purse to Premier Mode, Michael Fawcett, a consultant or His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales’s Household; and if he will make a statement. [156854]

Mr. Jim Murphy: None of the cost of the official gift to President Bush was included in the cost of gifts in the letter of 16 May to my hon. Friend from my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Margaret Beckett). The letter contained details of the cost of gifts presented by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall during the visit to the USA in January 2007. The official gift of a book written by Sir Winston Churchill was presented to President Bush during the visit in November 2005. The book was purchased by the Household of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. In line with normal practice the cost was reimbursed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as sponsoring Department.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales’s Household was consulted in preparing the answer given to the hon. Member for Thurrock on 17 November 2005, Official Report, column 1491W, on the United States (Prince of Wales’s Visit); and if he will make a statement. [156855]

Mr. Jim Murphy: Yes; it is our normal practice to consult all stakeholders when answering parliamentary questions.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis Michael Fawcett was authorised to select and purchase the official gift given by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to President Bush during his official visit to the USA in 2005; and when Mr Fawcett’s role in this task became known to his Department. [156856]

Mr. Jim Murphy: Gifts are selected by the Royal Household under guidelines set by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The first reference to Michael Fawcett in this context was in my hon. Friend’s parliamentary question (UIN 26865) that was answered by my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw) on 17 November 2005, Official Report, column 1492W.


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Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet (a) the President and (b) the Prime Minister of Yemen. [155835]

Dr. Howells: Foreign engagements for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers are kept under constant review. It is not our practice to announce such visits until they are firm. Because of the unpredictable nature of world events, final decisions on overseas visits are often not possible until very shortly before the day of travel. Our relationship with Yemen is, of course, a very important one for the Government.

Prime Minister

Armed Conflict: Terrorism

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to take advice from the security services on the likely effect on the incidence of terrorist events of any future UK military campaign prior to undertaking such a campaign. [154097]

The Prime Minister: Before committing to military action I would, of course, expect to take advice from all relevant bodies.

Cabinet Committee on Animal Terrorism

Mrs. Lait: To ask the Prime Minister why he has ended the work of the Cabinet Committee on animal terrorism. [154015]

The Prime Minister: The Government remain fully committed to tackling animal rights extremism. On 23 July 2007, Official Report, column 46WS, I announced a new Cabinet Committee structure copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. There are now a smaller number of broader ranging, more cross-cutting Committees. Under the new structure, the new Domestic Affairs (Justice and Crime) sub-Committee will be responsible for reviewing progress in tackling animal rights extremism.

Chequers: Official Hospitality

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to publish the list of guests who were entertained at Chequers in 2006-07. [153607]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ochil and South Perthshire (Gordon Banks) on 25 July 2007, Official Report, column 1110W.

Departments: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mr. Spring: To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether Chris Leslie holds a position remunerated from the public purse; and if he will make a statement; [152722]

(2) whether Wilf Stephenson holds a position remunerated by the public purse; and if he will make a statement; [152728]


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(3) whether Deborah Mattinson holds a position remunerated by the public purse; and if he will make a statement. [152729]

The Prime Minister: No.

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 10 July 2007, Official Report, column 1467W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the job description of his adviser on political press issues. [154105]

The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 10 July 2007, Official Report, column 1467W.

Departments: Official Hospitality

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister which guests he has entertained at (a) No. 10 Downing street and (b) Chequers since 27 June 2007. [153346]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my spokesman on 26 July 2007. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website: http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page12687.asp, and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departments: Press

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister (1) to which periodicals his Office subscribes; [153156]

(2) how much was spent by his Office on newspapers and magazines in the last 12 months; [153157]

(3) what magazines, newspapers and periodicals No. 10 Downing street and his Offices subscribed to (a) before and (b) since 27 June. [153531]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) on 9 October 2007 (153289, 153290, 153530).

Departments: Redundancy Pay

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent by his Office on redundancy payments in the last 12 months. [153152]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) on 9 October 2007 (153283).

Departments: Travel

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent by his Office on first class train tickets in the last 12 months. [153158]


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The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband) on 8 October 2007, Official Report, column 3W.

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent by his Office on (a) first class and (b) business class flights in the last 12 months. [153159]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Edward Miliband) on 8 October 2007 (153286).

Departments: Tribunals

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent by his Office on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months. [153155]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) on 9 October 2007 (153288).

Iraq: Weapons

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what source of information was cited in intelligence reports to the Government immediately before the decision to go to war with Iraq in March 2003 and subsequently refuted as a reliable source of information; what assessment he has made of whether this source of information existed; whether this source was a case of the UK intelligence service being misled; what the nature was of the subsequent inquiries which led to the refutation of this source of information; and if he will make a statement. [152615]

The Prime Minister: These matters have been examined during the course of the Butler Review and other inquiries, and covered during debates and statements on Iraq and in briefings by my predecessor's official spokesman. All relevant information has been placed in the public domain in as far as that could be done without prejudicing national security.

Legislation: Queen Elizabeth II

Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Prime Minister what procedures were followed in relation to informing the Queen about the announcement of the draft legislative programme. [154471]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 July 2007, Official Report, column 721W.


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Official Residences

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost to public funds has been of entertainment at (a) Chequers, (b) Chevening and (c) Dorneywood since 1 May 1997. [151277]

The Prime Minister: For information on entertainment costs at Chequers for the financial year 2006-07 I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 25 July 2007, Official Report, column 1108W. For information prior to this date I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor, the right hon. Tony Blair, on 11 October 2006, Official Report, column 794W.

Responsibility for Chevening is a matter for the Foreign Office. In respect of Dorneywood, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Parliamentary Secretary at the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Chris Leslie) on 28 March 2003, Official Report, column 484W. Since my right hon. Friend the former Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Prescott) relinquished the use of Dorneywood, any costs associated with official use have fallen to the relevant Department.

Parliamentary Private Secretaries: Finance

Mrs. May: To ask the Prime Minister what the total estimated annual cost is of (a) expenses, (b) salary, (c) office space and (d) administrative support for his new Parliamentary Private Secretary. [154609]

The Prime Minister: Parliamentary Private Secretaries are appointed in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code. They do not receive salaries or expenses.

Tony Blair: Security

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with the Quartet on security arrangements for the former right hon. Member for Sedgefield in his role as Special Envoy to the Middle East; [153410]

(2) what the cost has been to the public purse of providing security protection for the former right hon. Member for Sedgefield since he left office; [153414]

(3) what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse of security protection for Mr. Blair in 2007-08. [153415]

The Prime Minister: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on security matters.


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