HC Deb 08 February 2000 vol 344 cc136-7W
Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information the United Kingdom Embassy in Moscow has on the visits made to Russia by(a) presidents of other EU countries, (b) heads of Government of other EU countries and (c) other ministers of EU countries since 1 May 1997. [107628]

Mr. Vaz

[holding answer 31 January 2000]: The United Kingdom Embassy in Moscow does not keep records of all visits to Russia by EU partners. However, the information readily available in the FCO (which is not necessarily comprehensive) shows that the following visits took place:

departmental research contracts, how many research contracts, other than science or technology contracts, have been let by his Department since May 1997; what is the value of each contract, and in each case whether the contract included (a) departmental veto over publication of the research results, (b) departmental control over the date of publication of the research and (c) a requirement that the final research results incorporate departmental amendments; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the standard research contract currently in use by his Department. [107103]

Mr. Hain

[holding answer 1 February 2000]: We have not let any research contracts since May 1997. There is no standard FCO research contract.