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71W<br />
Written Answers<br />
26 OCTOBER 2009<br />
Written Answers<br />
72W<br />
Chris Bryant: Since 2005 the Overseas Territories<br />
Environment Programme has funded projects totalling<br />
£2,056,100 in the South Atlantic British Overseas Territories.<br />
Pakistan: Nuclear Weapons<br />
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for<br />
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest<br />
estimate is of levels of expenditure by Pakistan on its<br />
nuclear weapons programme. [294840]<br />
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Pakistan’s defence spending for the<br />
financial year 2008-09 is reported as being 305 billion<br />
rupees and is anticipated to reach 343 billion rupees for<br />
the next financial year. We do not have information on<br />
how much is devoted to the nuclear weapons programme,<br />
although any such programme will require significant<br />
levels of resources.<br />
We continue to engage with the government of Pakistan<br />
on a variety of defence matters, and regularly discuss<br />
counter proliferation issues with them.<br />
Papal Nuncio<br />
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for<br />
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent<br />
discussions he has had with the Papal Nuncio of<br />
Britain. [293811]<br />
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign<br />
Secretary has had no discussions recently with the Papal<br />
Nuncio of the UK. Our ambassador to the Holy See has<br />
spoken to the Papal Nuncio twice in recent weeks.<br />
Papal Visit<br />
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for<br />
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent<br />
discussions he has had on proposals for a Papal visit to<br />
the <strong>United</strong> <strong>Kingdom</strong>. [293812]<br />
Mr. Ivan Lewis: In February 2009, my right hon.<br />
Friend the Prime Minister invited the Pope to visit the<br />
UK. To date, there has been no official announcement<br />
by either state of a Papal visit.<br />
Turks and Caicos Islands<br />
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for<br />
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to<br />
the written ministerial statement of 12 October 2009,<br />
Official Report, column 9WS, on the Turks and Caicos<br />
Islands, how many staff of his Department have worked<br />
in the Governor’s office since 2005; what the roles were<br />
of such staff; and if he will make a statement. [294592]<br />
Chris Bryant: The staffing of the Governor’s Office<br />
consists of a Governor, a head of the Governor’s Office<br />
(HoGO), a staff officer and a personal assistant. In<br />
November 2008 the staff was strengthened with the<br />
addition of a senior adviser to the Governor.<br />
Since 2005, three officers have filled the post of<br />
Governor, three the post of HoGO, two the post of<br />
staff officer and two the post of personal assistant.<br />
Since its creation in 2008 the senior adviser position has<br />
been filled by three staff. During periods of leave and<br />
illness, positions in Governor’s Office have been covered<br />
by a number of staff on temporary duty.<br />
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for<br />
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to<br />
the written ministerial statement of 12 October 2009,<br />
Official Report, column 9WS, on the Turks and Caicos<br />
Islands, how often his Department plans to update the<br />
House on progress made to restore good governance,<br />
sustainable development and sound financial management<br />
to the Islands. [294593]<br />
Chris Bryant: I will keep the House up to date through<br />
further statements when there are significant developments<br />
in the Islands.<br />
Turks and Caicos Islands: Meetings<br />
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for<br />
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times<br />
Ministers in his Department have had meetings with<br />
the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands since<br />
July 2008; and if he will make a statement. [294544]<br />
Chris Bryant: My hon. Friend, the then <strong>Parliament</strong>ary<br />
Under Secretary of State, Meg Munn, met the Governor<br />
prior to his departure for the Turks and Caicos Islands<br />
in July 2008 and my hon. Friend, the then <strong>Parliament</strong>ary<br />
Under Secretary of State, Gillian Merron, met him at<br />
the Overseas Territories Consultative Council in October<br />
2008. I have not yet had the opportunity to meet him,<br />
but have spoken to him on the telephone.<br />
Turks and Caicos Islands: Politics and Government<br />
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State<br />
for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long he<br />
expects the interim government in the Turks and<br />
Caicos Islands to be in place. [294940]<br />
Chris Bryant: On 14 August 2009 the Governor brought<br />
into force an Order in Council suspending ministerial<br />
government and the House of Assembly in Turks and<br />
Caicos Island for a period of two years. It remains our<br />
intention that elections should be held by July 2011.<br />
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State<br />
for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures<br />
his Department has put in place to ensure sustainable<br />
development in the Turks and Caicos Islands following<br />
the publication of Sir Robin Auld’s final report on<br />
alleged corruption. [294943]<br />
Chris Bryant: Crown land is the Turks and Caicos<br />
Island (TCI)’s biggest and most vulnerable asset. The<br />
Government have funded the appointment of a crown<br />
land adviser who is reviewing existing Crown land<br />
policy taking into account the TCI long-term sustainable<br />
development plan.<br />
Visits Abroad: USA<br />
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for<br />
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits<br />
he has made to the <strong>United</strong> States on official business in<br />
the last 12 months. [293313]<br />
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign<br />
Secretary has made five visits to the US since October<br />
2008 on official business.