Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last made representations to the European Union on the continued proscription of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organisation; and if he will make a statement. [61656]
Dr. Howells: The Mujahedin-e Khalq Organisation (MEK) is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the United Kingdom. The MEK appears on the list of persons, groups and entities which are subject to restrictive measures with a view to combating terrorism under Council Regulation 2580/2001-EC. The Court of First Instance of the European Communities is currently scrutinising the process by which the MEK was included on that list, and the UK has made representations to the Court. Judgment in that case is awaited.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what security arrangements are in place for members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organisation at Camp Ashraf in Iraq; [61661]
(2) what plans he has assessed for the protection of Mujahedin-e Khalq Organisation members at Camp Ashraf when the UK and the US disengage from Iraq. [61665]
Dr. Howells: The Iraqi Government is responsible for the security of Camp Ashraf in Iraq. At their request, Multi-National Forces in Iraq (MNF-I) currently provide perimeter security at the camp. The Iraqi Government will remain responsible for the protection of Camp Ashraf when the MNF-I leaves Iraq.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Mujahedin-e Khalq since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. [61663]
Dr. Howells: The Mujahedin-e Khalq Organisation is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the United Kingdom. It is Government policy that Ministers and officials do not have contact with proscribed groups.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organisation that have been disarmed by coalition forces in Iraq since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. [61664]
Dr. Howells: Since April 2003, approximately 4,000 Mujahedin-e Khalq Organisation members have been disarmed by US forces at a number of locations in Iraq.
28 Mar 2006 Column 919W
The United Kingdom Parliament