§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the responsibilities and duties of Lord Levy, as the Prime Minster's personal envoy in the Middle East. [142970]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 18 December 2000]: To develop the United Kingdom's bilateral relations with the countries the Prime Minister asks him to visit, and to exchange views on key regional issues with leaders in those countries.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what ministers and Heads of Government Lord Levy met on his last visit to the Middle East as the Prime Minister's personal envoy. [142971]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 18 December 2000]: Lord Levy's last visit in the region as the Prime Minister's envoy was to the Palestinian Authority on 8 October, when he passed a message on the Prime Minister's behalf to President Arafat.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings he has had with Lord Levy to discuss Latin America. [143304]
§ Mr. Battle[holding answer 18 December 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave on 20 December 2000, Official Report, column 237W.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the visits undertaken by Lord Levy since February as representative of Her Majesty's Government, indicating in each case the(a) dates, (b) destinations, (c) cost to public funds and (d) purpose of the visits. [142974]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 18 December 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister: to him on 20 December 2000, Official Report, column 236W; to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan), on 20 December 2000, Official Report, column 235W; and to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 1 November 2000, Official Report, column 510W.
Lord Levy paid his own travel expenses. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Embassies provided practical support, the cost of which is not separately itemised.
339WThe purpose of the visits was to develop the United Kingdom's bilateral relations with the countries visited and to exchange views on regional issues.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which dates Lord Levy has had meetings with(a) Ministers and (b) senior officials in his Department since 1 May 1997, giving in each case the purpose of the meetings; and if he will make a statement. [142972]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 18 December 2000]: Lord Levy liaises regularly with the Foreign Secretary, Ministers and a limited number of officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Foreign Secretary last saw him on 6 December and I last spoke to him on 14 December.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what practical support was given by his Department to Lord Levy during his recent visits to Middle Eastern states on official business as the Prime Minister's personal envoy. [142973]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 18 December 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on behalf of the Prime Minister on 30 March 2000, Official Report, column 262W. Similar practical Support was given during Lord Levy's recent visits to Middle Eastern states as the Prime Minister's Envoy.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role Lord Levy played in the recent round of Middle East peace talks. [142969]
§ Mr. Hain[holding answer 18 December 2000]: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, Lord Levy and I have encouraged the parties to maintain their dialogue, to take steps to bring the violence to an end, and to resume negotiations. I am encouraged at the recent news that negotiations have resumed.