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Column 357
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 24 April 1989
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Lebanon
Mr. Grylls : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take to seek to restrain the military action by Syrian forces against the Lebanon.
Mr. Waldegrave : The Twelve have made de marches to both the Syrian and General Aoun and issued a statement on 17 April calling for restraint and a ceasefire. We fully support the efforts of the Arab League to find a negotiated solution and urge all parties to work with the league to that end.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his visit to the United States of America on 16 April, he raised with the United States Secretary of State (a) the first preparatory committee meeting of the 1990 nuclear non-proliferation treaty to be held 1-5 May in New York, and (b) the strategy that the depository states for the
non-proliferation treaty could adopt to increase the membership of the treaty.
Mr. Waldegrave : No. However, we take every appropriate opportunity to discuss these issues with the United States. Preparations for the 1990 non-proliferation treaty review conference are frequently discussed at official level.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, at the recent meeting in Spain of the Council of European Community Foreign Affairs Ministers, he raised the matter of the 1990 fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the non-membership of France of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Vietnam
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit of the Minister of State to Vietnam with regard to the returning boat people.
Mr. Waldegrave : During his visit my noble Friend Lord Glenarthur discussed all aspects of the boat people problem, stressing the heavy burden placed on Hong Kong and the urgent need to find a comprehensive and durable solution. He visited some returnees in their homes. All said they were glad to have returned, and that they had been well treated.
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Israel
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel following the killing by their occupation forces of Palestinian children in Nahalim.
Mr. Waldegrave : The Israelis will be fully aware of our views on this tragic incident following the statement by the FCO spokesman on 14 April and our vote in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution on 20 April.
British Citizens Overseas (Imprisonment)
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give by reference to a common date the number of British citizens imprisoned abroad, showing the number in each country ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : To the best of our knowledge there were 1,190 British citizens detained overseas on 31 December 1988. A breakdown by country is given in the table.
|c|British nationals detained overseas:
31 December 1988|c|
|c|(Total 1,190)|c|
|Number
---------------------------------------
Argentina |1
Australia |16
Austria |5
Bahrain |1
Bangladesh |3
Barbados |2
Belgium |32
Botswana |1
Brazil |4
Bulgaria |1
Canada |7
Colombia |1
Cote D'Ivoire |1
Cyprus |2
Denmark |8
Ecuador |1
Egypt |4
Finland |3
France |162
Germany, West |116
Ghana |2
Greece |33
Guyana |1
Hong Kong |8
India |23
Indonesia |4
Iran |1
Iraq |1
Ireland |7
Israel |6
Italy |23
Jamaica |13
Japan |9
Kenya |9
Korea, South |1
Kuwait |8
Liechtenstein |2
Luxembourg |3
Malawi |1
Malaysia |3
Malta |7
Mexico |4
Morocco |8
Mozambique |1
Nepal |6
Netherlands |19
New Caledonia |1
New Zealand |3
Norway |26
Oman |4
Pakistan |1
Peru |5
Philippines |10
Portugal |27
Qatar |1
Saudi Arabia |5
South Africa |42
Spain |216
Sri Lanka |1
Swaziland |2
Sweden |32
Switzerland |42
Taiwan |3
Thailand |17
Trinidad and Tobago |1
Turkey |1
Turks and Caicos Islands |1
United Arab Emirates |9
United States of America |141
Venezuela |1
Yugoslavia |2
Zimbabwe |20
|----
Total |1,188
Central America
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on (a) the percentage of voters which elected the present Governments of Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, (b) the protection of opposition parties and supporters from military or para-military attacks or repression in these countries and (c) the facilities to meet and campaign enjoyed by such parties ; and what regard he has to these factors when formulating his policy towards Central America.
Mr. Waldegrave : The figures available to us are as follows : (a)
Country |Election Date |Winning Candidate/Party|Per cent. of votes cast
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
El Salvador |6 May 1984 |Jose Napoleon Duarte |<1>54.05
|(Christian Democrat)
Guatemala |5 December 1985 |Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo |<1>68.00
|(Christian Democrat)
Honduras |14 November 1985 |Jose Azcona Hoyo |49.23
|(Liberal)
Nicaragua |4 November 1984 |Daniel Ortega Saavedra |61.77
|(Sandinista National
|Liberation Front)
<1> Second Round Figures.
In the most recent Presidential election in El Salvador (19 March 1989), Alfredo Cristiani of the National Republican Alliance (ARENA) won on the first round with 54.8 per cent. of the votes cast. He will take office on 1 June.
(b) There were reports of harassment of the opposition in the course of all these elections. The nature of this harassment varied according to the situation in each country. In El Salvador in 1984 a number of Left-wing parties decided that it would not be safe for them to participate. They did however participate in 1989. (c) Opposition parties have in general enjoyed reasonable freedom to meet and campaign, although
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according to the Socialist International, in the Nicaraguan elections in 1984 the opposition suffered harassment and censorship of their campaign materials. They were also allotted unequal time on radio and television. Several political parties did not participate because they considered conditions did not exist for a genuinely democratic election.Support for democracy is one of the guiding principles on which our policy towards Central America is based. We therefore take very careful account of the conduct of elections and the context in which they take place.
DEFENCE
Aircraft Deployment
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature and purpose of the deployment of United States Air Force reserve C-130 aircraft to RAF Benson in September 1988.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The temporary deployment of three United States air national guard tactical aircraft units to RAF Benson in September 1988 was designed to give reservist aircrews experience of European flying conditions.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the nature and purpose of the deployment of United States marine corps F/A-18 aircraft to Edinburgh airport in September 1988.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The purpose of the deployment of United States marine corps F/A 18 aircraft to Edinburgh airport during the period 3 to 9 September 1988 was to test the staging facilities for elements of the II United States marine air wing en route to a deployment destination in northern Europe as part of a NATO exercise.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all exercises or deployments involving four or more aircraft of visiting forces for 1988 at bases and facilities, both military and civil, in the United Kingdom, giving the number of aircraft, type of aircraft, the major base or facility used and the dates of the exercises.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information requested is not held centrally and could not be compiled without disproportionate cost and effort.
Imber
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the dangers to members of the armed forces training in the village of Imber and surrounding lands from (i) unexploded ordnance, (ii) metal fragments, (iii) wire entanglements and (iv) open trenches.
Mr. Neubert : Unexploded ordnance, wire entanglements, metal fragments, and open trenches are inherently dangerous. However, since soldiers are trained to recognise and take appropriate steps to deal with such dangers and have support from specialist explosive ordnance disposal teams, I am satisfied that risks to military personnel training in and around Imber village are kept to an acceptable minimum. Indeed there have been no recorded injuries to soldiers training in the area from unexploded ordnance in the last 10 years.
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Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of injuries that have occurred to members of the armed forces training in the village of Imber and surrounding lands for each year since 1979 that are attributable to (i) unexploded ordnance, (ii) metal fragments, (iii) wire entanglements and (iv) open trenches.
Mr. Neubert : There are no records of injuries to members of the armed forces resulting from incidents involving unexploded ordnance whilst training in the village of Imber or the surrounding area in the years since 1979. In respect of the other data requested by the hon. Member, I regret that the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his reply of 3 March, Official Report, column 358, if he will list the legislation subsequent to the Defence Act 1842 that is relevant to the powers under which his Department holds the village of Imber and surrounding lands.
Mr. Neubert : The legislation subsequent to the Defence Act 1842 that is relevant to the power under which MOD holds the village of Imber and the surrounding lands is the Ordnance Board Transfer Act 1855 and the Defence Transfer of Functions Act 1964.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his reply of 3 March, (Official Report column 357-58, if he will reconsider his decision not to search
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relevant records so as to ascertain the number of representations his Department has received regarding the continued use of the village of Imber and surrounding lands by the armed forces.Mr. Neubert : No, but I stress that those records that are readily available indicate that no recent representations have been received concerning the continued use of Imber by the Army.
Ships (Visits)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (i) the recent visit of HMS Turbulent to Liverpool, (ii) the recent visit of HMS Tireless to Cardiff, and (iii) the recent visit of HMS Churchill to Southampton.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : These visits were carried out for rest and recreation purposes and to further relations between the Royal Navy and the areas concerned.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all visits by (i) United Kingdom and (ii) non-United Kingdom nuclear powered vessels to non-naval ports that have taken place since June 1987, giving the name of vessel, port visited and dates visited.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines have visited berths in United Kingdom civil ports on the following occasions since June 1987 :
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Royal Navy ships |Period of visit |Ports visited -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HMS Trafalgar |28 September-3 October 1987 |Liverpool HMS Churchill |30 January-4 February 1988 |Cardiff HMS Superb |1 March-6 March 1988 |Cardiff HMS Courageous |2 March-7 March 1988 |Liverpool HMS Tireless |9 March-15 March 1988 |Southampton HMS Torbay |11 May-17 May 1988 |Liverpool HMS Sceptre |4 June-10 June 1988 |Liverpool HMS Trafalgar |12 October-18 October 1988 |Cardiff HMS Turbulent |2 December-12 December 1988 |Liverpool HMS Tireless |25 January-2 February 1989 |Cardiff HMS Churchill |23 February-28 February 1989|Southampton
There were no visits to civil ports by foreign nuclear-powered warships.
Exercise Womble
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (a) how many soldiers were involved in Exercise Womble on Salisbury plain on 31 March, (b) which parts of Salisbury plain were covered by this exercise, (c) how many square miles, or square kilometres, were cleared by this exercise, (d) how many instances of (i) unexploded ordnance, (ii) metal fragments, (iii) wire entanglements or (iv) open trenches were found during this exercise, (e) how many injuries to personnel were recorded during this exercise, (f) how much litter was picked up during this exercise ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Neubert : Exercise Womble formed part of the annual clean-up of all ranges, training areas and camps within the Army's south-west district area. It involved about 500 men, lasted one day, and covered some 35 square miles of the Salisbury Plain training area. Small amounts of unexploded ordnance were discovered and removed for safe disposal ; these were one artillery shell,
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one demolition charge and three pyrotechnic devices. Eight 4-ton truck loads of metal fragments, iron pickets and the remains of metal targets were removed and 11 open trenches filled in. No serious injuries were reported although a number of soldiers were treated for minor cuts and abrasions. Some 700 plastic dustbin liners filled with a mixture of domestic civilian and military rubbish were recovered along with several discarded refrigerators and other domestic appliances.Arms Deployment
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the levels he envisages for limits on the amounts of arms a country can station in another country under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation proposals to the conventional forces in Europe talks ;
(2) if he will make a statement on the levels he envisages for zonal sublimits on the stationing of certain categories of weapons in specific geographical areas under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation proposals to the conventional forces in Europe talks.
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Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to rules 3 and 4 in the proposals submitted by the 16 NATO countries at the opening of the conference on conventional forces in Europe, a copy of which is in the Library.
Harrier (Sales)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed sale of RAF Harrier GR3 aircraft to Zimbabwe.
Mr. Sainsbury : The content of discussions on defence sales matters is confidential.
Cruise Missiles (Boscombe Down)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps were taken to notify parties to the intermediate nuclear forces agreement of the transfer of eight cruise missile launchers from RAF Greenham Common to Boscombe Down airfield between 20 March and 5 April ; why they were transferred ; how their transfer affects the right to access for on-site inspection under the intermediate nuclear forces agreement ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The INF treaty, which is a bilateral agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union, allows either party to deploy treaty-limited items such as missile launchers within designated deployment areas for unspecified periods of time without the need to notify the other party. This arrangement has, I understand, worked well and given neither party any cause for concern.
As the hon. Member is aware, it is not our practice to comment upon operational details. I can, however, say that the launch vehicles were not transferred directly from RAF Greenham Common to A&AEE Boscombe Down, but spent time there during an off-base deployment which left Greenham Common on 14 March and returned there on 12 April. As this took place within the United Kingdom deployment area, there was no requirement for the United States to inform the Soviet Union, and no such steps were taken.
On-site inspections can only take place at specified locations, which in the United Kingdom are RAF Greenham Common and RAF Molesworth. Whenever an inspection is called, which is always at short notice, it is possible that treaty-limited items will be deployed away from those locations. This is accepted by both parties.
Nuclear Disarmament
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Oldham, Central and Royton (Mr. Lamond) of 7 March, Official Report, column 738, what category of nuclear disarmament it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to support.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : In common with our NATO allies, this Government support arms control agreements, whether nuclear or conventional, which enhance stability and allow Western security to be maintained at lower levels of weapons. For the foreseeable future, the Alliance sees no alternative to its policy of deterrence based on an appropriate mix of adequate and effective nuclear and conventional forces, kept up-to-date where necessary.
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Forest Fires
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if, pursuant to his answer of 11 April, he will consider providing the British armed forces with aircraft suitable for fighting forest fires.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No. Responsibility for fighting forest fires rests with the appropriate civil authorities.
Computers
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many instances have been detected in his Department of computer (a) hacking, (b) viruses, (c) logic bombs, (d) trojan horses or (e) other types of computer misuse, whether perpetrated by authorised or unauthorised users of the computers ; and how many unsuccessful attempts have been recorded ;
(2) if he will make a statement on all recorded cases of unauthorised access to his Department's computer files.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he can quantify the risk of damage by hackers to sensitive computerised files in his Department.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The risk of damage by hackers to MOD computerised files holding classified material is regularly assessed. It is not in the interests of national security to provide details of the current assessment.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether staff are briefed about computer hacking and computer viruses ; and whether there are contingency plans to deal with computer downtime caused by unauthorised penetration.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Staff are trained in computer security including hacking and computer viruses. In addition, departmental instructions are circulated on computer security-related issues. The necessary contingency plans are in place to deal with computer downtime, no matter what the cause.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of his Department's policy on review of the security of its computer files.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : MOD computer security staff continuously review the Department's computer security policy and its application to ensure that constant and adequate levels of protection are provided for those computer systems processing or holding classified material.
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures his Department has taken to protect data in transit by electronic means.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Data in transit by electronic means is adequately protected. It is not in the interests of national security to provide details of the measures employed.
USAF Aircraft (Crashes)
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement about the crash of a United
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States Air Force A-10 Tankbuster jet from RAF Bentwaters at Bank farm, Benwick near Chatteris, Cambridgeshire ;(2) if he will make a statement about each crash in the United Kingdom or its territorial waters of United States Air Force jets in the last year ; what risk to life was involved ; and what armaments they were carrying.
Mr. Neubert : During the last year, three United States Air Force aircraft have been lost in accidents in the United Kingdom, as follows :
i. 22 December 1988 : and A-10 aircraft crashed near St. Ives, Cambridgeshire, during a routine training flight. The pilot successfully ejected.
ii. 4 April 1989 : an A-10 aircraft crashed on landing at RAF Alconbury. The pilot was uninjured.
iii. 17 April 1989 : and A-10 aircraft crashed during a routine training flight on open farmland one mile south of Benwick, Cambridgeshire. The pilot was killed.
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In each case the aircraft was equipped with GAU7 anti-tank guns and practice ammunition. No civilians were injured as a result of any of these accidents.RAF Aircraft (Crashes)
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report all crashes involving RAF Jaguar aircraft since 30 April 1975, showing the date of the crash, the serial number of the aircraft, the unit it was attached to and the fatalities, if any, involved in the crash.
Mr. Neubert : The details of serious accidents involving RAF Jaguar aircraft in which the aircraft sustained irreparable damage are as follows :
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Date |Tail |Type/Mark |Station |Fatalities |Unit
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 April 1975 |XX831 |Jaguar T2 |Lossiemouth|0 |226 OCU
5 February 1976 |XX137 |Jaguar T2 |Lossiemouth|0 |226 OCU
2 July 1976 |XX822 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |1 | 14 SQN
15 September 1976 |XX735 |Jaguar GR1 |Coltishall |1 | 6 SQN
17 September 1976 |XX120 |Jaguar GR1 |Coltishall |1 | 54 SQN
14 December 1976 |XZ102 |Jaguar GR1 |Laarbruch |0 | 2 SQN
25 February 1977 |XZ120 |Jaguar GR1 |Laarbruch |1 | 2 SQN
14 June 1977 |XX978 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |1 | 31 SQN
29 July 1977 |XX148 |Jaguar T2 |Lossiemouth|2 |226 OCU
21 March 1978 |XX971 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 31 SQN
27 April 1978 |XX149 |Jaguar T2 |Lossiemouth|2 |226 OCU
25 July 1978 |XX823 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |1 | 17 SQN
1 November 1978 |XX759 |Jaguar GR1 |Lossiemouth|1 |226 OCU
26 March 1979 |XX147 |Jaguar T2 |Bruggen |0 | 17 SQN
22 June 1979 |XX142 |Jaguar T2 |Lossiemouth|2 |226 OCU
18 July 1979 |XX960 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 14 SQN
23 November 1979 |XX762 |Jaguar GR1 |Lossiemouth|1 |226 OCU
10 December 1979 |XX755 |Jaguar GR1 |Lossiemouth|1 |226 OCU
10 December 1979 |XX749 |Jaguar GR1 |Lossiemouth|0 |226 OCU
28 May 1980 |XX964 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 17 SQN
28 May 1980 |XX961 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |1 | 17 SQN
17 July 1980 |XX817 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 17 SQN
12 February 1981 |XX827 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |1 | 17 SQN
14 April 1981 |XX973 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 31 SQN
1 June 1981 |XX828 |Jaguar T2 |Lossiemouth|0 |226 OCU
17 July 1981 |XX113 |Jaguar GR1 |Abingdon |0 |MU
6 August 1981 |XX972 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |1 | 31 SQN
21 October 1981 |XX957 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 20 SQN
18 November 1981 |XX758 |Jaguar GR1 |Lossiemouth|1 |226 OCU
2 April 1982 |XX122 |Jaguar GR1 |Coltishall |1 | 54 SQN
25 May 1982 |XX963 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 14 SQN
11 June 1982 |XX820 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 31 SQN
13 September 1982 |XX760 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 14 SQN
29 September 1982 |XX768 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 17 SQN
7 March 1983 |XZ376 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 17 SQN
19 April 1983 |XX742 |Jaguar GR1 |Coltishall |0 | 6 SQN
16 June 1983 |XZ105 |Jaguar GR1 |Laarbruch |0 | 2 SQN
16 June 1983 |XZ110 |Jaguar GR1 |Laarbruch |0 | 2 SQN
22 June 1983 |XX721 |Jaguar GR1 |Coltishall |0 | 54 SQN
19 September 1983 |XX114 |Jaguar GR1 |Lossiemouth|0 |226 OCU
7 February 1984 |XX750 |Jaguar GR1 |Coltishall |1 | 6 SQN
12 July 1984 |XZ393 |Jaguar GR1A|Coltishall |0 | 54 SQN
22 August 1984 |XZ395 |Jaguar GR1A|Coltishall |0 | 54 SQN
1 April 1985 |XZ388 |Jaguar GR1 |Bruggen |0 | 14 SQN
9 July 1985 |XX365 |Jaguar GR1A|Laarbruch |0 | 2 SQN
7 October 1985 |XX728 |Jaguar GR1A|Coltishall |0 | 6 SQN
7 October 1985 |XX731 |Jaguar GR1 |Coltishall |1 | 6 SQN
27 November 1986 |XX732 |Jaguar GR1A|Lossiemouth|1 |226 OCU
17 June 1987 |XZ116 |Jaguar GR1A|Coltishall |1 | 41 SQN
24 June 1987 |XZ386 |Jaguar GR1A|Lossiemouth|1 |226 OCU
7 September 1988 |XX834 |Jaguar T2 |Coltishall |1 | 6 SQN
13 April 1989 |XZ359 |Jaguar GR1A|Coltishall |1 | 54 SQN
Low-flying Aircraft
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will prohibit RAF low-flying over cliff nesting sites for sea birds on the east coast of Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Neubert : For flight safety reasons, areas of major bird concentration, including the locations of major seabird breeding colonies in Scotland, are already notified to aircrews who will take account of the potential hazards in the planning and execution of their low flying sorties. It is not therefore generally necessary to impose mandatory restrictions on the overflight of specific cliff nesting sites.
NATINADS Exercise
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what role will be played by RAF Stornoway and Stornoway airport in the United Kingdom NATINADS exercise scheduled for 25 to 27 April ; (2) what role will be played by RAF Benbecula and Benbecula airfield in the United Kingdom NATINADS exercise scheduled for 25 to 27 April.
Mr. Neubert : During the NATO integrated air defence system exercise MAULSTICK, which is planned to be held between 25 and 27 April, the radar facilities at RAF Benbecula will be tested by a small number of aircraft operating some miles away from the island. RAF Stornoway will not be involved.
Defence Export Services
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Mr. Alan Thomas will be taking over from Sir Colin Chandler as head of Defence Export Services ; and what are the terms of the appointment.
Mr. Sainsbury : Mr. Alan Thomas will start taking over from Sir Colin Chandler as Head of Defence Export Services in early July. He will assume total responsibility for the post in September. Mr. Thomas was appointed at a salary of £100,000 a year subject to annual review. He will also be eligible for a performance bonus.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Manaus Conference
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the results of the Manaus conference, sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society, on Amazonia, at which he was represented.
Mr. Chris Patten : At the Manaus conference a five volume economic survey compiled by Dr. Ratter of the
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Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh was handed over. Forty-six scientific papers were read (in Portuguese) and useful discussions on future work were held. The Brazilian authorities expressed satisfaction with the level of expertise and the degree of United Kingdom/Brazilian co-operation. A series of reports will be prepared for Acta Amazonia, the major Brazilian journal of the National Institute of Amazon Research in Manaus. The Overseas Development Administration expects shortly a written report from the Royal Geographical Society.Brazil
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for a member of his Department to visit the Maraca project, Brazil.
Mr. Chris Patten : I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave him on 18 April, at column 183. We are in discussion with the Brazilian authorities on what further assistance may be given for rain forest work in Brazil. If a visit by an Overseas Development Administration team is agreed it will present an opportunity for the team leader to visit the Maraca project.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Patten), the Minister for Overseas Development, has to pay a visit to Brazil.
Mr. Chris Patten : Dependent on other commitments, I hope to visit Brazil later this year.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for the forest regeneration team to return for two months to Maraca ecological reserve, Brazil.
Mr. Chris Patten : The forest regeneration team are returning to Maraca for two months under the project work plan funded by the Overseas Development Administration as soon as their visas have been authorised.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds Her Majesty's Government are providing to study the Alexa tree at the western end of Maraca, Brazil, for its potential in providing the plant alkaloid castanospermine ; and what interim results are available from the clinical tests at St. Mary's hospital, London, with a view to providing a treatment for certain forms of the disease AIDS.
Mr. Chris Patten : The Overseas Development Administration support for research in the Maraca forests has been concerned with their management and
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