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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.

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