HC Deb 10 January 1996 vol 269 cc250-1W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Commonwealth ministerial action group has to take evidence in public. [7605]

Mr. Hanley

[holding answer 9 January 1996]: The Commonwealth ministerial action group agreed on 20 December 1995 to receive written submissions and to review its modus operandi wherever necessary but did not decide to take evidence in public.

Mr. Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the Commonwealth ministerial action group will be funded. [7607]

Mr. Hanley

[holding answer 9 January 1996]: The Commonwealth Secretariat will provide administrative support for meetings of the group. Travel costs for members of the group will be met by their respective Governments.

Mr. Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the Commonwealth ministerial action group is expected to meet over the next two years; and where the meetings will be held. [7604]

Mr. Hanley

[holding answer 9 January 1996]: The group has no set meeting schedule and agreed at its meeting in London on 20 December 1995, to meet "as and when necessary". It agreed to hold a further meeting in London in April and to send a five-member mission to Nigeria to pursue "dialogue with the Nigerian Government". A date for this mission has not yet been agreed.

Mr. Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the reports of the Commonwealth ministerial action group to the Heads of Government will be published. [7606]

Mr. Hanley

[holding answer 9 January 1996]: The group published a "Concluding Statement" after its first meeting on 20 December 1995, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The group's mandate is to report to Commonwealth Heads of Government who will exercise ultimate responsibility for deciding whether the group's reports should be published.