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Israel
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Israeli policy of house demolition in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. [53455]
Mr. Fatchett: House demolitions are a serious abuse of human rights wherever they occur. We and the EU carefully monitor Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes and report these in a quarterly EU "Jerusalem Watch".
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Palestinian houses in the occupied Palestinian territories have been demolished since the Oslo Accords of 1993. [53456]
Mr. Fatchett: Estimates vary between 671 (discounting demolitions of temporary dwellings; figures from a local NGO) and 2,004 (including temporary dwellings; figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government). These figures include demolitions in East Jerusalem.
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of Israel on the demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank and Jerusalem. [53457]
Mr. Fatchett: We have made it clear to the Israeli Government on many occasions that we condemn any attempt to change the demographic balance of Jerusalem in advance of final status talks.
Security Surveillance Warrants
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice he receives before signing warrants authorising security surveillance; and from whom. [53825]
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Mr. Robin Cook:
The procedures involved in submitting warrants for approval were set out in paragraph 5 of the Interception of Communications Act Commissioner's report for 1996. This makes it clear that the Secretary of State considers applications, after scrutiny by senior officials, together with supporting documentation and the comments of advisers. This process incorporates in every case, advice from legal advisers of the appropriate agency.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many warrants authorising security surveillance he has signed since 1 May 1997. [53827]
Mr. Robin Cook:
It has been the practice of successive Interception of Communications Act Commissioners not to publish the numbers of interception warrants issued by the Foreign Secretary, as they have taken the view that it would be against the public interest to do so. Similarly the Intelligence Services Act Commissioner has stated that he does not consider it in the public interest to disclose the numbers of warrants issued under Section 5 of the Interception of Communications Act 1994. The Government endorse the Commissioners' views.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make it his policy not to dispose of (a) the whole and (b) part of the Paris (i) Embassy and (ii) Residence buildings; [53344]
(3) if he will make it his policy not to dispose of (a) the whole and (b) part of the Bangkok (i) Embassy and (ii) Residence buildings; [53345]
(4) if he will make it his policy not to dispose of (a) the whole and (b) part of the Vienna (i) Embassy and (ii) Residence buildings. [53348]
Mr. Fatchett:
Our policy is to ensure that all elements of the FCO estate provide value for money. For those which do not, disposal is one option; we shall also be considering how to make better, and more intensive, use of those properties we retain.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the summaries of the telegrams provided to members of the Foreign Affairs Committee. [53795]
Mr. Robin Cook:
I have no plans to publish the summaries. I believe that publication of diplomatic exchanges will do cumulative damage to the frankness of the reports our High Commissioners and Ambassadors send, and the willingness of other governments to talk to them on a confidential basis.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the desk officers in his Department, indicating the countries for which they are responsible. [53792]
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Mr. Fatchett:
For security reasons, it is not possible to provide the information requested. General information on members of the Diplomatic Service at Posts overseas and in London is contained in Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service List, a copy of which is in the Library.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) costs and (b) nature of assistance currently being given by the Government to Sierra Leone. [53872]
Mr. Foulkes:
I have been asked to reply.
Assistance currently being provided to Sierra Leone by the United Kingdom Government comprises:
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on classifying the use of land mines as a war crime. [49673]
Mr. Doug Henderson
[holding answer 9 July 1998]: I have been asked to reply.
Until such time as the use of Anti-Personnel mines become subject to a comprehensive prohibition under international law, it cannot be classified as a war crime. This is not a matter of policy but what is currently possible under international law.
The abhorrence with which the Government view the use of Anti-Personnel land mines should be in no doubt to anyone. This is reflected by the Government's introduction of domestic legislation to fulfill our obligations under the Ottawa Convention. We shall continue to encourage as many countries as possible to sign and ratify the Ottawa Convention.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the section "Reforming Regulation" in his Department's document "UK Presidency of the EU Half Way Mark", if he will place in the Library the progress report; and if he will make a statement on the proposals agreed at Cardiff. [53781]
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Dr. John Cunningham:
I have been asked to reply as Cabinet Minister with responsibility for better EU regulation.
The European Commission's report "Legislate less to act better: the facts" (COM(98)345) was presented to the European Council at Cardiff on 15 June 1998.
(2) if he will make it his policy not to dispose of (a) the whole and (b) part of the Tokyo (i) Embassy and (ii) Residence buildings; [53347]
Contribution to the UN Trust Fund for Peace Enforcement in Sierra Leone: £2,000,000 from the FCO
Emergency Demobilisation Project providing humanitarian assistance to ex-combatants: £2,000,000 from Department for International Development
Contribution to the work of the Commonwealth Police Development Team: £800,000 from DFID
Humanitarian and Rehabilitation projects implemented through NGOs: c.£3,000,000 from DFID
Three senior advisers to Government of Sierra Leone: £250,000 from DFID
Support to the establishment of an independent radio station: £120,000 from DFID
Civil Service Support Project: Campaign for Good Governance: £101,000 from DFID
Contribution to Government of Sierra Leone's two year National Programme for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration: £6,500,000 from DFID.
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