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Advisory Group on Programmes of Study for Potential Citizens

Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, and, if so, when they intend to provide extra resources to local education authorities and further education colleges and other institutions in order to allow them to make extra provision for the teaching of English to speakers of other languages and for citizenship classes in order to meet the requirements of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill.[HL5920]

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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Filkin): An independent advisory group has been appointed to advise on the content and implementation of programmes of study for potential citizens to enable them to comply with the requirements of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill. Among other things, the group has been asked to advise on the levels of achievement necessary to comply with the proposed requirements. Until such time as the Government have received, and reached a decision on, the advisory group's proposals, and estimated what extra demand might be generated by them, it will not be possible to identify with any precision the resources which may be needed by local education authorities or further education colleges.

National Insurance: Employers' Contributions

Lord Butler of Brockwell asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why employers are required to pay national insurance contributions for employees over state pension age but employees are not required to make contributions.[HL5867]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Employers' national insurance contributions have been a feature of the national insurance scheme since it was introduced. It is only right that employers should pay the same level of national insurance contributions regardless of the age of the employee. To introduce a system that provided a clear financial advantage in employing a particular group of employees based on their age would be unfair to other employees and contrary to the universal nature of the scheme. At the same time it is right that employees should cease to pay contributions once they reach pension age given the direct link between their contributions and their entitlement to state retirement pension.

Diego Garcia

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether suspected terrorists are being held on the British Territory of Diego Garcia; if so, what are their names and nationalities; under whose jurisdiction they fall; and when they will be brought before a court.[HL5824]

The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): No suspected terrorists are being held on Diego Garcia.

British Nationals Resident in Ireland

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have approached the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe High Commissioner on National Minorities with regard to the human rights of the British minority in the

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Republic of Ireland, in line with the approach to the High Commission by the Republic of Ireland with regard to the Irish national minority in Northern Ireland. [HL5930]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government have made no approach to the OSCE's High Commissioner on National Minorities concerning British nationals resident in Ireland.

Senegal: Export of Machine Guns

Lord Acton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have agreed to supply general purpose machine guns to Senegal for use in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country subject to a European Union arms embargo. [HL6022]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Following consultations with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export general purpose machine guns to Senegal. These arms will be used by the Senegalese armed forces in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

DRC is subject to an EU arms embargo, imposed by a declaration of 7 April 1993. The embargo was put in place mainly to ensure the safety of international troops and civilian personnel deployed in the DRC. The decision to grant an exemption does not affect Her Majesty's Government's continued support for the EU arms embargo on the DRC.

The decision to permit export was made on the basis that the equipment is needed by bona fide UN peacekeepers and is proportionate to the humanitarian needs of the Senegalese peacekeepers.

Her Majesty's Government fully support the Senegalese troops deployed to the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC. The decision underlines our continued support for the work being done by peacekeepers within the country.

United Kingdom Special Representative for Georgia

Lord Kirkhill asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who will be the United Kingdom Special Representative for Georgia.[HL6023]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government are committed to finding a way to help Georgia become prosperous, stable and able to live in harmony with its neighbours. This is why I am glad that the Foreign Secretary has appointed Sir Brian Fall as the UK's Special Representative for Georgia, with effect from 1 October. In this capacity Sir Brian will also be the UK Senior Representative on the Group of Friends of the UN Secretary General on Georgia. Sir Brian was HM ambassador to Moscow

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from 1992 to 95. His experience of the region and his diplomatic skills will be invaluable in helping him fulfil this role.

Azerbaijan and Armenia: OSCE Arms Embargo

Lord Kirkhill asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will continue to uphold the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe embargo on the export of weapons and military equipment to Azerbaijan.[HL6024]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government remain committed to the OSCE arms embargo against both Azerbaijan and Armenia, which we interpret as covering all goods and technology controlled under entries in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the military list.

In September 2002, the Government approved an export licence application for demining vests for the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Actions.

In January 2002 the Government approved a similar request for protective jackets for demining operations to Azerbaijan.

The decision was made in accordance with our practice occasionally to make an exemption to our interpretation of the embargo by approving exports of non-lethal military goods to humanitarian, media or peacekeeping organisations where it is clear that the embargo was not intended to prevent those exports and there is a strong humanitarian case for them.

Iraq: Demining Equipment Licence

Lord Kirkhill asked Her Majesty's Government:

What goods on the Military List have recently been approved for export to Iraq.[HL6025]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export demining equipment to the United Nations Office for Project Services in mine clearance operations in northern Iraq. The export included an electronic hand held exploder that appears on the Military List. The conclusion that this export does not represent a proliferation threat has been reached after careful assessment.

The UN Iraq Sanctions Committee approved this export to Iraq under the Oil for Food programme (OFF). Under OFF, Iraq is allowed to export unlimited quantities of oil to fund the purchase of humanitarian goods. The export is consistent with the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria.

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European Union: Forthcoming Council Business

Lord Barnett asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for October; and what are the major European Union events for the period between 31 October 2002 and April 2003.[HL6026]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: October 2002

1– Brussels—GAERC.

2– Brussels—Meeting of the Praesidium.

3–4 Brussels—Convention Plenary: Subsidiarity & Legal Personality working group conclusions; interim reports on Charter & National Parliaments working groups.

3–4 Brussels—Transport & Telecommunications Council.

8– Brussels—ECOFIN.

8– Brussels—Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council.

10– Copenhagen—EU/India Summit.

11–12 Nyborg—Internal Market, Consumer Affairs & Industry Meeting (Ministerial Informal).

14– Brussels—Fisheries Council.

14–15 Brussels—Justice & Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council.

16– Brussels—EU Commission: Annual Report on Candidate Countries.

17– Brussels—Environment Council.

17– Brussels—Meeting of the Praesidium.

20– Luxembourg—EU Trade (Ministers Informal).

21–22 Brussels—General Affairs Council.

24–25 Brussels—European Council

28–29 Brussels—Meeting of the Praesidium.

28–29 Aalborg—Patent Protection: Ministers & EU Commissioners.

28–29 Brussels—Convention plenary: Giscard to release his constitutional text; Charter working group conclusions; preliminary reports on conclusions of Economic Governance and Complementary Competences working groups.

European Calendar: November 2002–April 2003

Date	Location	Event
November 2002
4	Brussels	Culture Council
5	Brussels	ECOFIN
6	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
7	Brussels	Health Council
7–8	Brussels	Convention Plenary– Complementary Competences and Economic Governance working group conclusions; preliminary reports on conclusions of Simplification, National Parliaments, Security and Justice working groups.
11–12	Brussels	Education, Youth & Culture Council
14–15	Brussels	Internal Market, Consumer Affairs & Tourism Council
18–19	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations Council (+ Defence)
21	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
25–26	Brussels	Budget Meeting
25–26	Brussels	Industry & Energy Council
28	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
28–29	Brussels	Justice and Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council
December 2002
2	Brussels	Meeting on Macro Economic Dialogue (Ministerial Troika)
3	Brussels	ECOFIN
2–3	Brussels	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
4	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
5	Brussels	Transport & Telecom Council
6	Brussels	Transport & Telecom Council
9	Brussels	General Affairs Council
10	Brussels	Environment Council
12–15	Copenhagen	European Council
16–17	Brussels	Fisheries Council
19	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
20	Brussels	Justice and Home Affairs & Civil Protection Council
20–21	Brussels	Convention Plenary–External Action and Defence working group conclusions
January 2003
9	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
9	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed)
16	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
20	Brussels	EUROGROUP (evening)
20	Brussels	Convention Plenary
20–21	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
21	Brussels	ECOFIN
24	Nafplion	Employment Council (Ministerial Informal)
27–28	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations Council
28	Brussels	EU-ASEAN Ministerial
30	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
February 2003
5	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
6–7	Brussels	Convention Plenary
10–11	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed)
13	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
17	Brussels	EUROGROUP (evening)
18	Brussels	ECOFIN
20	Brussels	Education, Youth & Culture Council (to be confirmed)
22	Thessalonika	Energy Council (Ministerial Informal)
24–25	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relatons Council Agriculture & Fisheries
26	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
27–28	Brussels	Convention Plenary
27–28	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs Council
28	Brussels	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
March 2003
3	Luxembourg	Competitiveness Council
6	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
6	Luxembourg	Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs Council
6	Luxembourg	EUROGROUP (evening)
7	Luxembourg	ECOFIN
7	Luxembourg	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
13	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
14–15	Athens	(Informal Defence Meeting)
17–18	Brussels	Convention Plenary
17–18	Luxembourg	Agriculture & Fisheries Council
18–19	Luxembourg	General Affairs & External Relations Council
21	Luxembourg	European Council
27	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
27	Veria	Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal)
27–28	Luxembourg	Transport, Telecom & Energy Council
28	Athens	EU-Rio Group, EU-MERCOSUR
28–29	Veria	Informal Justice & Home Affairs (Veria)
31	Luxembourg	Agriculture & Fisheries Council (to be confirmed)
April 2003
2	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
3–4	Brussels	Convention Plenary
4	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs
5	Lisbon	Europe–Africa Summit
5	Ioannina	Ministerial Meeting on Education (Informal)
10	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
11–13	Chania	ECOFIN (Informal)
14	Brussels	General Affairs & External Relations
14	Brussels	Agriculture & Fisheries
16	Brussels	Signature of The Accession (Provisional Date)
23	Brussels	Meeting of the Praesidium
24–25	Brussels	Convention Plenary

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