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Written Answers
Thursday, 20th May 1999.
Ethiopia and Eritrea
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are refusing licences for the export of arms and military equipment (including dual-use) to both Ethiopia and Eritrea until such times as their border dispute are satisfactorily resolved; and whether they will ask the members of NATO, the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation Europe and the Commonwealth to adopt similar policies.[HL2001]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): Following the resumption of fighting on 6 February we were instrumental in passing UN Security Council Resolution 1227 of 10 February which urged all states to end immediately all sales of arms and munitions to Ethiopia and Eritrea. My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Tony Lloyd MP) announced in another place on 15 February a UK arms embargo on both countries. At our suggestion a legally binding EU arms embargo was agreed on 15 March.
In accordance with these arms embargos we are refusing export licence applications to both countries. We expect these embargos to remain in force until this dispute is resolved peacefully.
We remain concerned at the continued flow of weapons into the region and urge all countries to end the sale of arms to Ethiopia and Eritrea.
EEC Entry Negotiations
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 26 April (WA 1), why they have not investigated the assertion by Mr. Hugo Young that he had received a copy of the secret text of the Foreign and Commonwealth's own history of negotiations on United Kingdom entry to the European Economic Community; and whether they will now make the secret text available to the
public.[HL2294]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The text referred to is the Report on the Negotiations for entry into the European Economic Community written in 1972 by Sir Con O'Neill. It was scheduled for public release in 2003 under the 30-year rule. However, a decision was taken in 1998 as part of a new open government initiative to accelerate the release and publication of FCO internal histories. Sir Con O'Neill's report fell into this category and preparations were set in hand for its
declassification and release before the publication of Mr. Young's book. It is expected to be published early next year.It is not practicable to investigate every alleged unauthorised disclosure of official documents. Leak investigations are carried out when the leak results in damage to the national interest. Since the decision to declassify the text prior to its early release pre-dated the publication of Mr. Young's book, it was decided that an investigation was not justified.
Kosovo: NATO Airstrikes
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether neighbouring states are intending to bill NATO for "collateral" and other damage which those states have suffered and, if so, what steps they are taking: (a) to maintain a record of such damage; and (b) to ensure that those responsible for targeting are aware of the economic, social and humanitarian values of the targets they decide should be attacked and that these values are taken into account.[HL2405]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No formal approach has been made by any neighbouring states to bill NATO for collateral or other damage. Every day NATO conducts detailed bomb assessments, including collateral damage. NATO takes great care in targeting to avoid collateral damage and is well aware of the economic, social and humanitarian impact on targets and takes this into account when selecting targets.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether recent statements by Ministers that NATO's victory will be achieved however long it may take indicate a change of policy from that where the prevention of humanitarian catastrophe was paramount.[HL2406]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There has been no change in our policy since the NATO airstrikes began. NATO remains united in its firm resolve to continue the airstrikes and reduce still further Milosevic's ability to repress his own citizens until we can guarantee a fair and peaceful future for all the people of Kosovo.
East Timor
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the United Nations' plans for independent monitoring of the "consultation" in East Timor.[HL2454]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The logistical details of the United Nations organised consultation of the East Timorese, in East Timor and the diaspora, to be held on 8 August are still being worked out.
Vietnam: Prisoners of Conscience
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will place in the Library of the House the current list of best documented cases of prisoners of conscience maintained by European Union missions in Vietnam.[HL2456]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: EU partners have agreed that the list of prisoners of conscience, about whom EU Ambassadors in Hanoi make collective representations to the Vietnamese Government, should remain confidential.
Nguyen Thanh Giang
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will raise with the Government of Vietnam the arrest on 4 March of the geophysicist Nguyen Thanh Giang; and whether they will ask the British Embassy in Hanoi to seek permission to visit Mr. Giang in prison, notwithstanding the absence of a right of access under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.[HL2448]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Nguyen Thanh Giang was released from prison on 10 May.
Russia: Private Capital Flight
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they or any other party has any intention of discovering the whereabouts of the 76 billion dollars which according to Russian Interior Minister, Sergey Stepashin, has been "smuggled out of Russia" in the last seven years; and, if so, whether they will help to return it.[HL2338]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There is a wide range of estimates of private capital flight from Russia over the recent years. Much of the capital flight reflects Russian individuals and firms acting within the law.
Where capital flows are known or suspected to be the proceeds of criminal conduct, financial institutions have a legal duty to report them to the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS). NCIS have agreed a memorandum of understanding with the Russian Ministry of the Interior and will assist its Russian authorities to investigate money laundering cases. The UK also provides technical assistance to Russia to help it improve its anti-money laundering systems and to meet the international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force on money laundering.
Monetary Policy Committee
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they plan any changes to the remit for the Monetary Policy Committee.[HL2581]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Chancellor has written to the Governor of the Bank of England confirming that the remit for the Monetary Policy Committee will remain unchanged. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library of the House.
Prisons and Probation Panel
Baroness Gould of Potternewton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made on the appointment of a joint prisons and probation panel to accredit the design and delivery of work with offenders aimed at reducing reoffending.[HL2605]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn): Sir Duncan Nichol has been appointed as chair of the panel. The members of the panel are in the process of being appointed and their names will be announced in June. The panel will start work by the autumn.
British Board of Film Classification
Baroness Gould of Potternewton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the British Board of Film Classification's annual report for 1998 will be published.[HL2604]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: We have today placed in the Library copies of the annual report of the British Board of Film Classification for 1998.
We welcome the board's timely publication of its annual report.
Schengen Acquis
Lord Tomlinson asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made on the United Kingdom's application to participate in the Schengen acquis.[HL2606]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: We have today written to Herr Schily, German Minister of the Interior and President of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, with the United Kingdom's formal application to participate in certain areas of the Schengen acquis as provided for by Article 4 of the Schengen Protocol. The application reflects my right honourable friend's answer in another place, Official Report, 12 March, col. 380. The text of the application has been placed in the Library and the draft Council decision on our application will be submitted for parliamentary scrutiny.
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