House of Commons Hansard Debates for 30 Nov 1988

Council of Ministers

21. Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next attend a meeting of the European Community Council of Ministers ; and what subjects he expects to discuss.

63. Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next attend a meeting of the European Community Council of Ministers ; and what subjects he expects to discuss.

91. Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next attend a meeting of the European Community Council of Ministers ; and what subjects he expects to discuss.

Mrs. Chalker : The next Foreign Affairs Council will be held on 19- 20 December. Subjects currently on the agenda are GATT ; New Zealand butter and sheepmeat ; hormones ; EC/EFTA relations ; and steel tariffs.

54. Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of meetings of the Council of Ministers of the European Community held in November.

Mrs. Chalker : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Mr. Amos) on 24 November for a statement on the Foreign Affairs Council of Ministers. My ministerial colleagues have reported on the outcome of specialist Councils of Ministers on matters which are their responsibility.

Vietnamese Refugees

22. Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to meet the Government of Vietnam to discuss the problem of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend has no current plans to do so.

44. Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the position of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

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65. Mr. Sims : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to reduce the number of Vietnamese refugees accommodated in Hong Kong ; and if he will make a statement.

68. Mr. Lofthouse : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in relation to the plight of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

90. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the position of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

Mr. Eggar : There are some 25,000 Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong. Some 15,500 of these have refugee status and are awaiting resettlement overseas. They are gradually being moved into open camps with access to training and employment opportunities which will enhance their resettlement prospects. Since 16 June all new arrivals who meet UNHCR criteria will join those refugees awaiting resettlement. Those who do not qualify as refugees will be held in detention centres pending their eventual return to Vietnam, once internationally acceptable arrangements for this can be agreed with the Vietnamese authorities. We are continuing to take in refugees from Hong Kong at the rate of about 20 per month and urging the other resettlement countries to play their full part.

Kampuchea

23. Mr. Gregory : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives have been taken by the United Nations representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council towards finding a solution for the problems of Kampuchea.

86. Mr. Janman : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives have been taken by the United Nations representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council towards finding a solution for the problems of Kampuchea.

Mr. Eggar : Responsibility for finding a solution to the Cambodian problem rests primarily with those directly involved. However, my right hon. and learned Friend

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discussed Cambodia with the Foreign Ministers of the four other permanent members of the Security Council when they met during the United Nations General Assembly. We expect informal contacts to continue between our missions in New York.

Southern Africa

24. Mr. Murphy : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the development of a solution to the regional problems in Angola and Namibia.

Mrs. Chalker : We have lent our full support to the United States- led negotiations. We warmly welcome the recent agreement on a timetable for Cuban troop withdrawal from Angola. We urge the parties to move forward quickly to implementation of the United Nations plan for Namibian independence.

48. Mr. Couchman : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited southern Africa.

Mrs. Chalker : In September my right hon. and learned Friend paid a successful visit to Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique. He has no present plans for a further visit to the region.

61. Mr. Anderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent his Department will be involved in the planning of the Prime Minister's forthcoming visit to the front-line states.

Mrs. Chalker : My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has no plans at present to visit southern Africa.

Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information relevant to the present United Kingdom policy on relations with South Africa was presented at the 32nd annual conference on the International Atomic Energy Authority in Vienna on 19 to 23 September.

Mr. Eggar : No new information relevant to United Kingdom policy on relations with South Africa was presented at the International Atomic Energy Agency's general conference. The conference passed a resolution resolving to take a decision on the suspension of South Africa from rights and privileges of membership of the agency at its 33rd session in 1989. The United Kingdom opposed the resolution because there is no legal basis under the agency's statute for suspending South Africa and to do so for political reasons would violate the fundamental right of any state to belong to the agencies of its choice.

36. Mr. John Carlisle : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on sanctions against South Africa.

Mrs. Chalker : Our objective remains the replacement of apartheid as soon as possible, through peaceful means, by a non-racial, representative system of government. We do not believe that punitive sanctions against South Africa would help achieve this.

United Nations

25. Mr. Illsley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects were

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discussed at recent meetings between Her Majesty's ambassador at the United Nations and the new President of the General Assembly.

Mr. Eggar : No such meeting has yet taken place. However, Dr. Caputo, in his capacity as Chairman of the United Nations General Assembly, has asked to see our permanent representative to the United Nations, Sir Crispin Tickell. This invitation has been accepted but no date has yet been fixed.

108. Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when next he plans to meet the Secretary General of the United Nations ; and what matters will be discussed.

Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend has no immediate plans to do so.

Soviet Union

26. Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the Foreign Minister of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ; and what issues he will be discussing.

Mr. Waldegrave : We expect Mr. Shevardnadze to accompany the Soviet President, Mr. Gorbachev, when he visits the United Kingdom from 12 to 14 December. We shall wish to discuss a wide range of issues, including bilateral matters, human rights, arms control and regional questions.

31. Mr. Flannery : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit the Soviet Union.

Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. and learned Friend has no such plans.

52. Mr. Leigh : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-Soviet relations.

Mr. Waldegrave : Anglo-Soviet relations are in better shape than at any time since 1945. Mr. Gorbachev is to visit Britain in December, when he will be having his fourth round of talks with the Prime Minister. Although fundamental differences between us remain, we are developing an increasingly wide range of worthwhile contacts with the Soviet Union at all levels.

Italy

27. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the Italian Prime Minister.

Mrs. Chalker : My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right and learned Friend the Secretary of State will both attend the European Council at Rhodes on 2-3 December.

Israel

28. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Israel to discuss the situation in the middle east.

Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has no plans at present to visit Israel.

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El Salvador

29. Mr. Buckley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of El Salvador regarding the Amnesty International report on human rights abuses in that country ; and what further action he proposes to take.

Mr. Eggar : We have not discussed the Amnesty International report with the Government of El Salvador. It is one of a number of recent reports on the human rights situation in El Salvador, including that by the UN special representative. The Government of El Salvador are aware of our long -standing concern about the human rights situation, and we shall continue to raise these concerns whenever appropriate.

39. Mr. Turner : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Amnesty International on human rights abuses in El Salvador ; and what action Her Majesty's Government are taking in response.

Mr. Eggar : Representatives of Amnesty International met FCO officials on 9 November to discuss the human rights situation in El Salvador. The British Government condemn all abuses of human rights. We are concerned by reports of a recent increase in human rights violation on both sides of the conflict in El Salvador, and we shall continue to raise our concerns with the Salvadorean Government whenever appropriate.

Afghanistan

30. Mr. Brazier : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the suspension of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan and continuing atrocities by the Red Army.

Mr. Eggar : We have noted with concern Soviet statements implying that withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan had been suspended. We continue to call for the prompt completion of their withdrawal. We condemn Soviet offensive military operations, including air strikes, which intensify the sufferings of the Afghan people.

33. Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to meet the Soviet Foreign Miniter to discuss the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend will be meeting the Soviet Foreign Minister on 13 December. We shall continue to press for the complete and prompt withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

France

32. Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his French counterpart.

Mrs. Chalker : My right hon. and learned Friend last met M. Dumas at the EC Foreign Affairs Council on 21 November. We last had bilateral talks on 2 November in Paris.

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Fiji

34. Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on how the new constitution of Fiji will affect United Kingdom-Fiji relations.

Mr. Eggar : The traditionally friendly relations between the United Kingdom and Fiji continue to exist, and we hope that Fiji will soon be able to return to parliamentary democracy under a constitution acceptable to a majority of all the people there.

Africa

37. Mr. Patnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the significance of increasing super power co-operation over regional problems in Africa ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker : We welcome closer co-operation between the United States and the Soviet Union, and recognise the constructive contribution such co-operation has made to the recent progress in the United States-led negotiations on Angola-Namibia.

Sen or Jorge Montes

38. Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chilean authorities regarding the arrest and detention of Sen or Jorge Montes.

Mr. Eggar : We understand that Sen or Montes was released on 18 November and that no charges have been brought against him.

Angola

40. Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current peace talks concerning the war in Angola.

62. Mr. Lawrence : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to why the MPLA Angolan Government have so far ignored Dr. Savimbi's offer of peace, in view of South African military withdrawal.

Mrs. Chalker : It is for the Angolan Government to respond to whatever Mr. Savimbi may have said. We would welcome any moves which led to peace in Angola.

76. Mr. Alexander : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to whether there has been any withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola.

Mrs. Chalker : We are not aware yet of any withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola. However, agreement has been reached between the Angolan, Cuban and South

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African Governments on a timetable for total Cuban troop withdrawal. We look to the early implementation of this agreement.

88. Mr. Knowles : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has ascertained from those African leaders most closely involved with bringing about a settlement to the civil war in Angola what terms and conditions are being required by the MPLA Government of Angola in order to negotiate with UNITA.

Mrs. Chalker : We are, of course, in touch with African leaders in the region. It is, however, for the parties concerned to bring the war to an end. We would welcome any move to establish internal peace in Angola which had the support of both sides.

97. Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United States Administration, and in particular Dr. Chester Crocker, on the agreement on the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola.

Mrs. Chalker : I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State's speech in the debate on the Address.

Hong Kong

41. Mr. Yeo : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next meet the Governor of Hong Kong ; and what matters will be discussed.

Mr. Eggar : We are in close contact with the Governor of Hong Kong on all aspects of the territory's administration. We meet regularly but at present there are no definite dates for our next meeting.

United States of America

42. Mr. Bevan : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-American relations.

Mr. Eggar : Anglo-American relations are in excellent order, as the recent visit to Washington of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister demonstrated.

56. Dr. Twinn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he proposes to hold concerning the foreign policy priorities of the next United States Administration.

99. Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he proposes to hold concerning the foreign policy priorities of the next United States Administration.

Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State will be taking an early opportunity to meet his new opposite number, Mr. James Baker.

United Arab Emirates

43. Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit the United Arab Emirates.

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Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet visited the United Arab Emirates, but it is one of the Arabian countries which he will be visiting early next year.

Cyprus

45. Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the President of Cyprus ; and what issues were discussed.

Mrs. Chalker : My right hon. and learned Friend last met President Vassiliou of Cyprus when he called on my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4 October, when we reviewed the progress of the intercommunal talks in Cyprus. My right hon. and learned Friend could not be present at the further discussions with President Vassiliou on 25 November.

Central America

46. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will be sending an observer to the next meeting of the Central American presidents.

Mr. Eggar : No. There has never been any question of foreign observers attending such a meeting.

Palestine National Council

47. Mr. Ernie Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the recent declaration in Algiers by the Palestine National Council ; and if he will make a statement.

60. Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the recent declaration by the Palestine National Council in Algiers for the middle east peace process.

66. Mr. Quentin Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Palestine National Council's recent declaration in Algiers.

112. Mr. Gale : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the Palestine National Council's recent declaration in Algiers for the peace process in the middle east.

Mr. Waldegrave : The decisions of the Palestine National Council represent modest but potentially important steps towards a peaceful settlement of the Arab/Israel conflict, although we believe that the declaration of a Palestinian state does not help to carry matters forward.

Gulf States

49. Mr. David Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current state of relations between the United Kingdom and the Gulf states.

Mr. Waldegrave : Our relations with the Gulf states are long established and very good.

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92. Mr. Cran : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last visited the Gulf states.

Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State last visited some of the Gulf states in January 1986. He will be visiting the area again early next year.

Kurds

50. Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on the current position of the Kurdish population in Iraq and neighbouring countries.

Mr. Waldegrave : The position of the Kurdish people is a matter of continuing concern. We condemned the use of chemical weapons against the Kurdish population in Halabja in March and more recent Iraqi military operations against the Kurdish community.

We have called for an independent investigation of allegations that Iraq has recently used chemical weapons against the Kurds and deplore Iraq's refusal to co-operate.

58. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any proposals to meet representatives of the Kurdish people.

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