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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
New Deal
Mr. Healey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people his Department is committed to employing during 1998 under (a) the subsidised job option and (b) the unsubsidised job option of the New Deal programme. [52586]
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Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to the following programme in support of the New Deal programme:
Phase 1--Plans are underway to employ eight (8) people under the subsidised job option and no members of staff under the unsubsidised job option in 1998.
Phase 2--We will look at employing people under the unsubsidised job option, and increasing the number of people employed under the subsidised option in the next calendar year.
Nigeria
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposals outlined by General Abubakar in his national broadcast on Tuesday 21 July. [52755]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: We welcome General Abubakar's commitment to the restoration of democratic civilian government by May 1999, after free and fair elections in early 1999. We also welcome his undertaking to respect human rights and democracy, including the release of the remaining political prisoners. This is the best news that we have had from Nigeria for a long time.
The time has now come to re-establish dialogue between Nigeria and Britain and the wider international community. We are working to secure the agreement of EU partners that members of the Nigerian Government should now be allowed to visit EU member states where that would help General Abubakar's programme and promote constructive dialogue.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to assist with arrangements for the international monitoring of the forthcoming Nigerian elections. [52758]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We are considering, with our Commonwealth and other partners, how to respond to General Abubakar's invitation to observe the elections in Nigeria.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from British industry concerning the situation in Nigeria. [52757]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
I am in contact with a range of companies, either individually or through the West Africa Committee, who represent the majority of British companies active in Nigeria. A welcome has been expressed for recent positive developments in Nigeria.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the restoration of air services between Nigeria and the UK by British Airways. [52760]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
I am pleased to announce that on 23 July General Abubakar, with immediate effect, lifted the ban on British Airways' flights to Nigeria.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official contact the Government have had with the Head of State of Nigeria since the visit of the Minister of State. [52756]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke to General Abubakar by telephone on 24 July. He welcomed General Abubakar's statement of 20 July committing himself to the restoration of
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democratic civilian government by May 1999, after free and fair elections. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister re-iterated that Britain was ready to help Nigeria with the implementation of the programme. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister also thanked General Abubakar for resolving the air services dispute.
Mr. Livingstone:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the laboratory tests on the fresh samples of missile warhead fragments which were removed from Iraq earlier this year and are alleged to contain traces of VX nerve gas and VX stabiliser are expected to be completed. [53104]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
On 14 July, fresh samples were collected from missile warhead fragments in Iraq by an UNSCOM team including French and Swiss experts. The samples are now being analysed in Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) accredited laboratories in France and Switzerland. UNSCOM does not expect to receive the full results of the new tests before September.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the vehicles due for replacement by (a) his Department and (b) bodies listed in the National Asset Register in (i) 1998-99, (ii) 1999-2000 and (iii) 2000-01 will be replaced by vehicles using (1) petrol, (2) diesel, (3) natural gas, (4) electric batteries and (5) other. [52621]
Mr. Fatchett:
The expected replacement programme for official vehicles at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is:
| Year | Overseas | Home |
|---|---|---|
| 1998-1999 | 189 | 5 |
| 1999-2000 | 254 | 9 |
| 2000-2001 | 160 | 8 |
Detailed information about the fuel types to be chosen for replacement vehicles to be purchased at FCO Posts overseas is not known. In each case, this will depend on the type of vehicle required, and the availability of fuel types in each country at the time of purchase.
Of the vehicles to be replaced in the FCO home fleet, the five replacement vehicles for 1998-99, have already been bought and consist of 3 petrol saloon cars and 2 diesel commercial vehicles. No advance decisions have been taken about the types of fuel for the replacement vehicles needed in future years. This will be carefully assessed at the time, based on vehicle requirements, technical advances in commercially available fuel types and availability.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what parking facilities for cycles exist at each office or site for which his Department is responsible and for each agency for which he is responsible. [52688]
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Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 28 July 1998]: This Department has 200 secure cycling spaces--108 in London and 92 at Hanslope Park, near Milton Keynes.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the situation in Burma. [54149]
Mr. Fatchett:
We continue to deplore the authorities' disregard for human rights and democracy. Ministerial statements have unequivocally condemned abuses. We continue to exert pressure on the regime to engage in substantive dialogue with opposition leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi. We used our Presidency to renew EU measures against Burma and to draft the tough resolution agreed by the UN Commission on Human Rights in April.
We do not encourage trade with or investment in Burma: in present circumstances we will include in any responses to inquiries about the market from British companies a very clear statement about the nature of the regime; and any briefings will emphasise the Burmese political and human rights situation and the state of the economy.
We also wish to draw attention to the views of the pro-democracy leaders in Burma that it would be inappropriate for tourists to visit Burma at present.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Panel 2000 will be making public its recommendations. [54150]
Mr. Fatchett:
Panel 2000 is in the final stages of producing a Consultation Document. This is intended to stimulate public debate on how Britain's identity is projected abroad. The Panel will welcome comments from all those with an interest in how Britain is perceived overseas. As soon as the document is finalised it will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the approval of an export licence for the supply of two Bedford trucks to Church Ecumenical Action in Sudan. [54151]
Mr. Fatchett:
The Government recently approved the export of two Bedford trucks to CEAS to help with the distribution of humanitarian aid in southern Sudan. While the trucks were once owned by the MOD, they have been stripped of all military hardware and painted white. They will now be used to help ease the terrible crisis in southern Sudan of which we are all aware. We were therefore glad to be able to approve this export as an exception to our interpretation of the EU arms embargo on Sudan. This decision does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU common position on arms exports to Sudan.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to lay before
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the House the report covering 1997 by Dame Elizabeth Anson, the Independent Monitor, of refusal of entry clearance where there is no right of appeal. [54152]
Mr. Robin Cook:
I have arranged for copies of Dame Elizabeth's Report covering 1997 to be placed in the Libraries of the House today. I welcome the Report and note Dame Elizabeth's recommendations, which will receive careful consideration.
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