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DNA Tests (Immigration)
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the procedures for the provision of free DNA tests in circumstances where the authenticity of a family relationship is contested, for immigration purposes. [17234]
Mr. Fatchett: DNA tests are provided for first-time applicants wishing to settle in the UK and for persons seeking to establish an entitlement to the Right of Abode in the UK. Applicants are advised that the service is free and that participation is voluntary. Blood samples are sent to the UK for DNA analysis for comparison with a DNA sample taken from a family member in the UK. Results are normally notified to Posts within 6 weeks.
Western Sahara
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings have been held with representatives of the Polisario movement of the Western Sahara in the past six months; and if he will make a statement. [17840]
Mr. Fatchett:
The United Nations have held direct talks with the parties involved in the Western Sahara issue. We support the UN's role in securing a settlement to the dispute.
26 Nov 1997 : Column: 545
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding HMG has provided towards UN operations in the Western Sahara for each of the last five years. [17829]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We have made the following contributions to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) in each of the last five financial years:
The UK pays 6.568 per cent. in assessed contributions of the total yearly cost of every UN peacekeeping operation. However, because the UK's contribution to MINURSO was over-assessed in 1991-92, no bills for assessed contributions were received in the following three financial years. Our estimated contribution for 1997-98 is £700,000.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to ensure observers are present in the Western Sahara until the United Nations referendum on its future is held; and if he will make a statement. [17842]
Mr. Factchett:
We support the UN mission in the Western Sahara. We have welcomed the Secretary-General's report dated 13 November 1997 to the Security Council, which contains recommendations on MINURSO's deployment. As a permanent member of the Security Council, we are playing a leading role in discussion on that deployment.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by United Kingdom representatives at the United Nations concerning the holding of a referendum on the future of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [17839]
Mr. Fatchett:
The United Nations is helping to prepare the ground for a referendum in Western Sahara. As a permanent member of the Security Council, the UK is playing an active role in discussions on the future deployment of MINURSO and on the UN mission.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of Morocco concerning the future of the Western Sahara. [17841]
Mr. Fatchett:
The United Nations has held direct talks with the parties involved in the Western Sahara issue. We support the UN's role in securing a settlement to the dispute.
26 Nov 1997 : Column: 546
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information, and from what sources, his Department has evaluated on the security of visitors to Egypt; and what guidance his Department has issued to tour operators. [17826]
Mr. Fatchett:
We gather information from a wide range of reliable sources. We are in close contact with our Embassy in Cairo who, in turn, are in contact with the Egyptian government.
Information from these sources has been distilled into the travel advice notice issued on 18 November as follows:
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions have been taken by his Department to promote dialogue between Kurdish movements in Iran, Iraq and Turkey; and if he will make a statement. [17838]
Mr. Fatchett:
With the US, the UK has brokered a ceasefire between the two Iraqi-Kurdish parties, the PUK and KDP. This came into effect on 24 November. It is the first essential step towards peace in the region. We have taken no steps to promote dialogue between Kurdish movements in other countries.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the British presence in the Kurdish area of Northern Iraq. [17832]
Mr. Fatchett:
The UK has no permanent official presence in the Kurdish area of northern Iraq. UK officials based in Ankara visit the area regularly. Several UK non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are also carrying out humanitarian work in northern Iraq.
26 Nov 1997 : Column: 547
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to be able to announce the establishment of the Antarctic Secretariat following ratification of the Antarctic Treaty. [17828]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Establishment of the Secretariat to the Antarctic Treaty will depend on the consensus of the Treaty Parties, which have yet to agree on its location.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Japan on its approval of the Antarctic Treaty; and if he will make a statement. [17835]
Mr. Fatchett:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 5 November 1997, Official Report, column 202.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what ways Her Majesty's Government will be able to influence policy making in the European Union in respect of immigration and asylum matters. [16499]
Ms Quin:
I have been asked to reply.
The United Kingdom participates fully in the intergovernmental co-operation on immigration and asylum policy provided for in the Treaty on the European Union. We shall use the opportunity of the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union, in the first half of 1998, to carry forward that co-operation. Future co-operation on immigration and asylum policy will, as a result of the Amsterdam Treaty, be taken forward in the First Pillar; the Government have secured a Protocol which enables us to opt into such co-operation. We shall seek to do so where it is in our national interest.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that individual consideration will be given to all asylum applications made by European Union nationals. [16491]
The first three figures are the costs of a UK military contribution (15 military observers and the Chief of Staff) which was made from 1991-93. The last two figures show our UN-assessed contributions.
1992-93: £815,057
1993-94: £310,496
1994-95: £22,527
1995-96: £3,676,702
1996-97: £641,173
"In a major incident near Luxor on 17 November gunmen killed more than sixty tourists, including at least six British visitors. Since 1992 extremists have conducted a campaign of violence against the Egyptian Government, mainly in the provinces of Minya and Assiut (half way between Cairo and Luxor) but with sporadic attacks in other areas. Most of these incidents have been directed at the police, or were sectarian in nature.
Extremists have warned tourists not to visit Egypt. In April 1996 gunmen killed 18 Greek tourists in Cairo. On 18 September two men, acting alone, killed 10 people, mainly German tourists, also in Cairo.
The Luxor attack suggests that the threat to tourists visiting Upper Egypt has increased. British visitors are advised to exercise great caution when visiting Upper Egypt (defined as the area of the Nile valley south of and including Minya province). They are strongly advised to avoid the Luxor area until further notice.
Visitors to all other parts of Egypt, including Cairo, the Red Sea and Sinai, are advised to be vigilant and to respect any advice from the local security authorities.
Local driving conditions and poor vehicle maintenance make road travel outside the main cities hazardous, especially at night. In the event of an accident emergency medical facilities are limited.
Travel advice is widely available to the travel trade and tour operators. We would be prepared to offer further advice to tour operators if asked. None have approached us following the events in Egypt on 17 November.
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