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Democratic Republic of Congo
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings he has had with visiting Ministers from the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on relations with that country. [91829]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: I met the then Foreign Minister for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in December 1998, and this year have met the Ministers of Finance and Human Rights during their visits to Britain. I visited Kinshasa in February 1999 and met President Kabila and other Ministers. We enjoy normal diplomatic relations with the DRC. Britain welcomes the signature of a ceasefire agreement in Lusaka on 10 July by the DRC and other countries concerned. We stand ready with the rest of the international community to help consolidate the peace.
Michael Ashcroft
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Mr. Michael Ashcroft has used a diplomatic passport for entry to the United Kingdom and enjoyed diplomatic immunity within the UK in the last five years (a) when declaring himself to be an Ambassador on entry and (b) when entering not having so declared himself. [92070]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Records are not normally kept of visits to the UK by diplomatic passport holders and we have none of Mr. Ashcroft having entered the UK using a diplomatic passport. Nor do we have any record of Mr. Ashcroft having sought immunity at any time over the last five years.
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Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rules govern the use of overseas accredited diplomatic passports by UK nationals. [92071]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The rules governing the use of foreign diplomatic passports by UK or other nationals is a matter for the overseas issuing authority.
British diplomatic passports are issued only to officers (and their spouses) serving overseas as accredited diplomats. They should be used only for journeys into and out of countries to which holders have been accredited.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement in the proposed Government committee on Holocaust Remembrance Day. [92159]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 19 July 1999, Official Report, column 400.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what forms of telecommunications in Iraq will be permitted to be restructured under the extension of the oil-for-food programme. [92157]
Mr. Hoon:
It is for the Government of Iraq to propose projects and equipment in the telecommunications sector as in all sectors for funding under the oil-for-food programme. The UN Secretary General approved Iraq's distribution plan for the sixth phase of the programme in April, subject to the caveat that each application will require the approval of the Iraq sanctions committee. We would be prepared to consider applications for telecommunications equipment directly related to the humanitarian programme.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the stance of the United Kingdom delegation to the UN Security Council on 14 June, with reference to the debate over the Chinese Embassy bombing in Belgrade; and what was the United Kingdom vote on the relevant resolutions. [92156]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We understand Chinese anger and grief at NATO's accidental bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have both made clear to the Chinese Government our deep regret at this tragic event. These sentiments were underlined in the Presidential Statement of the UN Security Council, issued on 14 May. There have been no Security Council resolutions on the issue.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries
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which have ratified the Rome Agreement to set up the International Criminal Court, indicating in each case the date of ratification. [92162]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Three countries have to date ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: Senegal (on 2 February 1999); Trinidad and Tobago (on 6 April 1999); and San Marino (on 13 May 1999).
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the legislation for British ratification of the International Criminal Court will be published. [92161]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Legislation to enable the UK to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court will be introduced as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 12 July 1999, Official Report, column 55, what projection he has made of the estimated loss of revenue over the next three years as a result of the withdrawal of DFID contracts from the British Council. [92164]
Mr. Hoon:
The British Council estimates that the value of DFID contracts it will implement will decline from £56.7 million in 1998-99 to £25.8 million in 2001-02, a fall of £30.9 million. The revenue will decrease form £11.0 million to £4.9 million, a reduction of £6.1 million.
In addition, based on trends in the decline of the number of trainees, the value of the Technical Co-operation Contract will decrease from £19.4 million in 1998-99 to £6.8 million. The revenue will decrease from £3.7 million to £1.3 million, a drop of £2.4 million.
In total revenue will decrease from £14.7 million in 1998-99 to £6.2 million, a drop of £8.5 million.
Rev. Martin Smyth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions he is taking to protect the citizens of countries whose security services are guilty of crimes against them. [90799]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Various international human rights instruments, most notably the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture, contain provisions designed to protect individuals from abuse by public authorities, including security services. We consistently urge all Governments to ratify and implement these instruments. More generally, we are able to provide practical assistance to strengthen understanding of and respect for human rights among public officials.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of all those official documents of the last Administration which have been seen by (a) him, (b) other Ministers in his
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Department, (c) special advisers in his Department and (d) non-career civil servants appointed since May 1997 in his Department. [92178]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
A large number of official documents were generated during the period of the previous Administration, many of which were published or put in the public domain. Since May 1997, the Department has been guided by the convention governing access to the papers of a previous Administration, as set out in the then Prime Minister's reply to a written question on 24 January 1980, Official Report, columns 305-07.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total cost to date of the tribunals on (a) Rwanda and (b) the former Yugoslavia. [92163]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia are mainly funded by assessed contributions from member states of the United Nations. The cost to date of assessed contributions is as follows:
| Year | $ million |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2.2 |
| 1996 | 24.5 |
| 1997 | 35.7 |
| 1998 | 50.4 |
| Year | $ million |
|---|---|
| 1 May 1994-31 December 1995 | 35.8 |
| 1996 | 30.4 |
| 1997 | 36.4 |
| 1998 | 59.4 |
| Year | $ million |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 0.2 |
| 1996 | 0.8 |
| 1997(8) | 1.0 |
| 1998 | 2.4 |
(8) Estimate
| Year | $ million |
|---|---|
| 1 May 1994-31 December 1995 | 0.09 |
| 1996 | 1.7 |
| 1997 | 4.0 |
| 1998 | 4.4 |
All figures are actual unless otherwise stated. The Tribunals also receive donations in-kind.
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