Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 11 December 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 13 December 2007. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Monday, 7 January 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Chernobyl: Children

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with (a) the Belarus ambassador to London and (b) directly with the Belarus Government on the establishment of a seasonal visa application centre in Gomel Oblast, Belarus.

Answer: We have held no recent discussions with the Belarus ambassador to London in respect of Chernobyl children. It was intended that a seasonal biometrics collection facility in Gomel Oblast specifically for children wishing to come to the UK for respite care would be offered. This would have been in addition to the service offered in our embassy in Minsk. However, the Government of Belarus would not allow the delivery of this visa service, including the collection of biometrics, through our commercial partnerships in the country and the embassy was compelled to adjust its plans. Correspondence with the Belarus embassy in London is ongoing. Given the lack of agreement with the Belarus authorities in respect to our commercial partnerships in Belarus, it has now been agreed that a seasonal mobile biometrics data collection service will operate on a pilot basis outside Minsk in the summer of 2008 for children in need of recuperative holidays. The pilot will involve the use of mobile biometric collection equipment in one or more regional locations between April and July. UKvisas are prepared to receive applications in Kiev, in Ukraine, where that proves to be more convenient.

Secondary information