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Mrs. Chalker : We warmly welcome the progress made towards internal reconciliation in Angola, notably the meeting between President dos Santos and Dr. Savimbi on
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22 June and the agreement to implement a ceasefire from 24 June. We are urging both sides to respect the ceasefire and to continue to show flexibility in the difficult negotiations that lie ahead.Hungary
42. Mr. Brandon-Bravo : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Hungarian Government ; and what matters were discussed.
83. Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Anglo-Hungarian relations.
Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. and learned Friend met Hungarian State Minister, Imre Pozsgay, on 25 April. I have just returned from a three-day visit to Hungary where I met Prime Minister Nemeth, Mr. Pozsgay and a wide range of Government party and Opposition leaders. I also laid a wreath at the grave of Imre Nagy and placed flowers at the memorial to Raoul Wallenberg. I expressed the strong support of the Government--and, I believe, of the House--for the process of reform taking place in Hungary.
Drugs
43. Mr. Summerson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are being taken to assist the governments of drug producing countries in the destruction of drugs.
Mr. Eggar : The United Kingdom has contributed some £10.7 million since 1982 to the United Nations fund for drug abuse control, which is the main multilateral channel for providing assistance to developing countries in combating drug production. The United Kingdom also spent around £3 million in 1988-89 on bilateral projects. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary recently announced a series of further measures to combat drug production, trafficking and consumption, including an international conference to be held in the United Kingdom in 1990.
Central America
45. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on progress towards the establishment of the central American Parliament.
Mr. Eggar : There has been no progress since my reply to the hon. Member's question of 27 October 1988. The Costa Rican Parliament has yet to ratify the treaty establishing the central American Parliament.
Nicaragua
48. Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have any plans to send an official group of observers to the Nicaraguan elections.
Mr. Eggar : We have told the Nicaraguan Government that we would be ready to appoint an official observer if an invitation is received. We await their response.
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68. Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the progress towards democracy being made by Nicaragua.
Mr. Eggar : No. When my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister saw President Ortega on 8 May, she made clear her concern that recent legislative reforms fall far short of the democratisation promised and were potentially restrictive. Recent events have tended to confirm our fears. We are also concerned at Nicaraguan attempts to impose unacceptable restrictions on diplomats' ability to report on the election campaign. We hope that steps will be taken by the Nicaraguan Government to rectify this situation.
51. Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will visit Nicaragua in the near future to discuss democracy in that country.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans at present to visit Nicaragua.
Refuseniks
49. Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the USSR about the difficulties of refuseniks.
Mr. Waldegrave : We press the Soviet authorities regularly on individual refusenik cases and of the wider need for
institutionalised reform. Over the last year at least 68 long-term refuseniks about whom we have made representations have been allowed to leave the Soviet Union.
Lebanon
52. Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has received since 1 January on the plight of British hostages believed to be held in the Lebanon.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have received a number of representations from hon. Members, members of the public and interested organisations on the plight of the British hostages detained in Lebanon.
Terrorism
57. Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to stress the importance of closer co-operation in the defeat of international terrorism at the next appropriate international gathering.
Mr. Waldegrave : It is a central strand of our policy to promote international co-operation to combat terrorism. We have taken, and will continue to take, a leading role to this effect in international organisations. The economic summit Seven group, which meets this weekend, will provide another opportunity to press for closer co-operation.
Antarctica
59. Mr. Gill : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress was made in discussions with the Prime Minister of Australia concerning the convention on Antarctica.
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Mr. Eggar : In discussion with the Australian Prime Minister and his colleagues, we said that we still believed the convention offered the best means of protecting the Antarctic environment. We made it clear that we intended to ratify the convention and that we were prepared to consider further measures for the protection of the Antarctic environment, but not at the expense of the convention. For their part, the Australian Ministers explained their view of the Antarctic minerals convention and their decision not to sign it.
Slavery
66. Mr. Patnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in achieving international co-ordination to tackle the problem of child slavery.
Mr. Eggar : Over 85 countries are parties to the Slavery Convention of 1926 (as amended by the Protocol of 1953), and 102 countries to the supplementary convention on the abolition of slavery, the slave trade and institutions and practices similar to slavery.
Since 1974, a United Nations working group on slavery has met annually to review the problems of slavery, including child slavery, and has recommended remedial action.
We hope that the draft United Nations convention on the rights of the child will shortly be adopted and will further strengthen international efforts to combat child slavery in all its forms.
Soviet Union (Train Disaster)
69. Mr. Heddle : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what medical assistance was made available by Her Majesty's Government to the Soviet Union after the recent train disaster there.
Mr. Waldegrave : We supplied air beds, artificial ventilators and other urgently needed equipment and pharmaceuticals to a value of £68,000. We also helped with arrangements for two teams of specialists from Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester and South Grampian to travel to Chelyabinsk to help treat the victims. (One of the teams was organised by the World Association for Emergency and Disaster Medicine). We also offered to arrange treatment in the United Kingdom.
Brazil
70. Sir Anthony Meyer : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Brazilian Government on environmental matters.
Mr. Eggar : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Lord President to the hon. Member for Barnsley West and Penistone (Mr. McKay) on 27 June. During his visit my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development signed a memorandum of understanding on environmental co-operation with the Brazilian Government. In addition, we have had a number of detailed discussions at ministerial and official level with the Brazilian authorities on these matters in recent months.
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European Parliament
71. Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consequences for European Community policies of the new political composition of the European Parliament.
Mrs. Chalker : We hope that the European Parliament will continue to make its full contribution to the Community legislative process and to effective inter-institutional co-operation in the Community.
Iraq (Kurdish Minority)
72. Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effect the Iraqi treatment of its Kurdish minority has had on British relations with Iraq ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : We have repeatedly expressed to the Iraqi Government our concern for the treatment of the Kurdish community in Iraq and the need to respect their human rights. We firmly believe that the only way of influenceing Iraq's attitude to these problems is by maintaining an effective working relationship.
World Economic Summit
73. Mr. Stevens : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise the issue of international debt at the world economic summit.
Mrs. Chalker : We expect international debt to be one of the important subjects covered at the economic summit.
Guatemala
74. Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent information he has about disappearances of political activists in Guatemala.
Mr. Eggar : Our information is that disappearances in Guatemala are occurring at a rate of about 25 a month. A number of these are attributable to criminal activity but there is little doubt that many are politically motivated. Although the numbers are greatly reduced compared with the early 80s, the situation is a cause of continuing concern. Like the UN special adviser on human rights in Guatemala, we do not, however, believe that the present civilian Government either condone or carry out abductions.
Namibia
76. Mr. Kirkhope : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the current state of implementation of the Namibian peace accords.
Mrs. Chalker : We welcome recent progress on the implementation of the UN plan for Namibian independence.
Immigration
77. Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current delays in preparing explanatory statements for refusal of entry clearance in (a) Bombay and (b) Islamabad.
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Mr. Eggar : On average, explanatory statements are prepared and forwarded to the appellate authorities within three months of receipt of an appeal in Bombay and within four to six weeks in Islamabad. Individual cases may take longer, depending on what further inquiries the entry clearance officer needs to make in the light of the grounds for appeal.
Vietnam
Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects were discussed when he last met the Foreign Minister of Vietnam.
Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last met the Foreign Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on 28 June. They discussed how to follow up the agreements reached in Geneva for resolving the problem of Vietnamese boat people and the prospects for a comprehensive political settlement in Cambodia.
Cuba
Mr. Batiste : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of United Kingdom-Cuban relations.
Mr. Eggar : We maintain normal diplomatic relations with Cuba. The Cuban First Vice Foreign Minister, Dr. Jose Viera Linarea, is visiting the United Kingdom from9 to 15 July.
EC Social Charter
Mr. Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, when he next meets West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, the European Community social charter will be discussed.
Mrs. Chalker : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will next see Herr Genscher and other EC colleagues at the economic summit in Paris on 14 to 16 July. The social charter will not be on the agenda.
Rain Forests
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice Her Majesty's embassy and consulates in Brazil have given United Kingdom companies seeking to carry on economic enterprises within areas of rain forest.
Mr. Eggar : Our officials are in regular contact with companies involved in the rain forest. As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development pointed out during his recent visit to Brazil, it is for the Brazilian authorities to decide what action they should take to enforce their laws. However, all companies should be concerned not only to comply with the laws of the country in which they operate but also to ensure that their operations are environmentally friendly.
Bulgaria
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Bulgaria about its
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expulsion of large numbers of the Turkish ethnic minority in that country ; and what consultations he has had with other European Economic Community Governments regarding assistance to Turkey to meet the costs of resettlement.Mr. Waldegrave : I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Dame Jill Knight) on 10 July.
We have discussed the political aspects of this issue with our EC partners, who, like us, are particularly concerned about developments in the region. As yet, no decision has been taken about EC aid for the resettlement of refugees from Bulgaria.
UNESCO
Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans for renewing the United Kingdom's membership of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : We are following developments at UNESCO closely and hope that the director general and member states will be able to bring about the changes that are needed. Before we can consider reviewing our position on membership, we will need to be convinced that fundamental reforms are being implemented both in UNESCO's administration and in its programmes. This will certainly not be possible until after UNESCO's general conference in November, which will adopt, and approve funding for, the organisation's new medium-term plan for 1990-95 and its programme and budget for 1990-91.
Second World War (Records)
Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now authorise the release through the Public Records Office of the special operations executive records from the second world war ; and why none of these records has been made public to date.
Mr. Eggar : No. Established criteria provide for certain records to be retained or closed for periods longer than 30 years under appropriate sections of the Public Records Act 1958 as amended.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Large Loaves
Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will investigate the effects of the linkage between Stewarts and Crazy Prices in Northern Ireland and Associated British Foods-Allied Bakeries on the price of large loaves in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Maude : I have been asked to reply.
Under United Kingdom competition legislation, it falls to the Director- General of Fair Trading to keep commercial activities in the United Kingdom under review. The director general's office has considered the competitive situation in the retail sale of bread in Northern Ireland including the operating relationship between Associated British Foods-Allied Bakers and Stewarts and
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Crazy Prices, and has taken into account the report of the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, published on 29 June, on the price of a large loaf in Northern Ireland. The director general does not consider that formal action under the competition legislation is warranted. If the hon. Member has any evidence of monopoly abuse, anti-competitive or restrictive trade practices he should draw it to the attention of the Director General of Fair Trading.Mr. Beggs : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure genuine competition in the retail sale of large loaves in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Maude : I have been asked to reply.
Under United Kingdom competition legislation it falls to the Director General of Fair Trading to keep commercial activities in the United Kingdom under review. The director general's office has considered the competitive situation in the retail sale of bread in Northern Ireland, and has taken into account the report of the General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, published on 29 June, on the price of a large loaf in Northern Ireland but does not consider that formal action under the competition legislation is warranted. If the hon. Member has any evidence of monopoly abuse, anti-competitive or restrictive trade practices he should draw it to the attention of the Director General of Fair Trading.
WALES
Housing
Mr. Anderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the area of other land (hectares) disposed of to private developers, including housing associations, for housing purposes by each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1981- 82, (iii) 1982-83, (iv) 1983-84, (v) 1984-85, (vi) 1985-86, (vii) 1986-87, (viii) 1987-88 and (ix) 1988-89 ;
(2) what was the number of (a) denial and (b) admission response notices issued for shared ownership by each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1981-82, (iii) 1982-83, (iv) 1983-84, (v) 1984-85, (vi) 1985-86, (vii) 1986-87, (viii) 1987-88 and (ix) 1988-89 ;
(3) what was the number of completed (a) right-to-buy full ownership sales and (b) other sales of (1) houses and (2) flats by each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1981-82, (iii) 1982 -83, (iv) 1983-84, (v) 1984-85, (vi) 1985-86, (vii) 1986-87, (viii) 1987-88 and (ix) 1988-89 ; (4) what was the number of completed disposals of council dwellings (a) built for sale, (b) improved for sale, (c) sold unimproved for improvement by purchaser, (d) sold to sitting tenants and (e) other sales for (i) full ownership and (ii) shared ownership by each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (1) 1980-81, (2) 1981-82, (3) 1982-83, (4) 1983-84, (5) 1984-85, (6) 1985-86, (7) 1986-87, (8) 1987-88 and (9) 1988-89 ;
(5) what was the number of completed right-to-buy sales where the authority does not own the freehold for (a) houses and (b) flats by each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1981- 82, (iii) 1982-83, (iv) 1983-84, (v) 1984-85, (vi) 1985-86, (vii) 1986-87, (viii) 1987-88 and (ix) 1988-89 ;
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(6) what was the number of completed right- to-buy sales with part 5 or section 32 mortgages for (a) flats and (b) houses by each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1981-82, (iii) 1982-83, (iv) 1983-84, (v) 1984-85, (vi) 1985- 86, (vii) 1986-87, (viii) 1987-88 and (ix) 1988-89 for (1) right-to-buy sales and (2) other sales ;(7) what was the number of denial response notices issued on the right to full ownership by each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (a) 1980-81, (b) 1981-82, (c) 1982-83, (d) 1983-84, (e) 1984-85, (f) 1985-86, (g) 1986-87, (h) 1987-88 and (i) 1988-89 ;
(8) what was the number of dwellings where right-to-buy claims were denied under paragraph 11 of schedule 5 to the Housing Act 1985, as amended, included at section A1 by each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (a) 1980-81, (b) 1981-82, (c) 1982-83, (d) 1983-84, (e) 1984- 85, (f) 1985-86, (g) 1986-87, (h) 1987-88 and (i) 1988-89 ;
(9) what was the number of right-to-buy full ownership claims for (a) houses and (b) flats received by each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1981-82, (iii) 1982-83, (iv) 1983 -84, (v) 1984-85, (vi) 1985-86, (vii) 1986-87, (viii) 1987-88 and (ix) 1988 -89 ;
(10) what was the number of right-to-buy shared ownership leases granted for (a) houses and (b) flats by each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1981-82, (iii) 1982-83, (iv) 1983-84, (v) 1984-85, (vi) 1985-86, (vii) 1986-87, (viii) 1987-88 and (ix) 1988-89 ;
(11) what was the number of right to shared ownership leases granted for (a) houses and (b) flats with a part V or section 32 mortgage in each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1981- 82, (iii) 1982-83, (iv) 1983-84, (v) 1984-85, (vi) 1985-86, (vii) 1986-87, (viii) 1987-88 and (ix) 1988-89 ;
(12) what was the selling price, net of discount, of completed disposals of council dwellings (a) built for sale, (b) improved for sale, (c) sold unimproved for improvement by purchaser, (d) sold to sitting tenants, (e) other sales and (f) the total for (1) full ownership and (2) shared ownership by each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1981-82, (iii) 1982-83, (iv) 1983-84, (v) 1984-85, (vi) 1985-86, (vii) 1986-87, (viii) 1987-88 and (ix) 1988-89 ;
(13) what was the total value of right-to-buy discount for each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole during (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1981- 82, (iii) 1982-83, (iv) 1983-84, (v) 1984-85, (vi) 1985-86, (vii) 1986-87, (viii) 1987-88 and (ix) 1988-89 ;
Mr. Peter Walker : A limited amount of the information is already published in "Local Housing Statistics". The rest can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Council House Sales
Mr. Anderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of accepted right-to-buy applications being dealt with but not yet completed at end of quarter for each local authority in Wales and for Wales as a whole.
Mr. Peter Walker : The information requested is given in the following table.
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Accepted right to buy applications being dealt
with but not yet
completed at end of March 1989.
Welsh District |Number
--------------------------------------------------
Aberconwy |219
Alyn and Deeside |516
Arfon |343
Blaenau Gwent |544
Brecknock |219
Cardiff |2,466
Carmarthen |27
Ceredigion |344
Colwyn |-
Cynon Valley |407
Delyn |188
Dinefwr |32
Dwyfor |44
Glyndwr |186
Islwyn |412
Llanelli |683
Lliw Valley |347
Meirionnydd |120
Merthyr Tydfil |384
Monmouth |572
Montgomeryshire |262
Neath |414
Newport |1,206
Ogwr |808
Port Talbot |397
Preseli |107
Radnorshire |39
Rhondda |136
Rhuddlan |224
Rhymney Valley |499
South Pembrokeshire |177
Swansea |1,265
Taff-Ely |1,021
Torfaen |1,515
Vale of Glamorgan |844
Wrexham Maelor |1.393
Ynys Mon |616
Wales |18,976
Planning Inquiries
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number of planning inquiries held by his Department in the last year, the average for each of the past five years, the numbers of those appeals that were allowed and the numbers of those allowed appeals when the relevant local council's planning officer had recommended that the application be allowed.
Mr. Peter Walker : In 1988, 178 planning inquiries were heard and 67 appeals were allowed following inquiries. Over the years 1983-87 inclusive an annual average of 179 inquiries was heard, and an average of 78 appeals was allowed following inquiries. Information about the numbers of appeals allowed when the relevant local council's planning officer had recommended that the application be allowed is not recorded centrally.
Housing Land
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department uses the same method of calculating the adequacy of housing land at planning inquiries as the methodology specified for local councils to use by Welsh Office circular 47/84, "Land for Housing in Wales."
Mr. Peter Walker : The methodology suggested for calculating the adequacy of housing land supply in Wales
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remains as set down in Welsh Office circular 47/84. The advice on methodology in circular 47/84 applies equally to decisions made by myself and my inspectors.Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the adequacy of housing land in (a) Cardiff and (b) Wales under the latest calculations using the methodology laid down in Welsh Office circular 47/84, "Land for Housing in Wales."
Mr. Peter Walker : Up-to-date figures on housing land supply in Cardiff are not available centrally but a joint land availability study for the county of South Glamorgan is expected to be published soon.
Studies for most other counties have been published in recent years but it is not possible to calculate a single figure for Wales as a whole.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales why the Land Authority for Wales uses a method of calculating the adequacy of housing land different from that laid down in Welsh Office circular 47/84, "Land for Housing in Wales" ; and how he ensures that no confusion or distortion is achieved by the use of the different methods of calculation.
Mr. Peter Walker : Joint land availability studies published by the Land Authority for Wales in co-operation with house builders' representatives and local authorities normally use the method suggested in Welsh Office circular 47/84. However, in certain circumstances, especially where the structure plan is out of date, the group may agree to present an alternative methodology if they believe this is appropriate. The reasoning is fully explained in the published report and any differences of view among group members recorded.
Water Undertakings
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on the disclosure of information by (a) Welsh Water and (b) other water public limited companies operating wholly or partly in Wales in the event of the privatisation of the existing water authorities ; and what changes are proposed to the information water authorities currently have to make available to the public.
Mr. Peter Walker : The underlying policy on the disclosure of information by privatised water and sewerage undertakers will be that applicable to registered limited companies rather than that appropriate to public corporations. In addition the Water Act 1989, earlier water legislation, and the conditions of appointment of water and sewerage undertakers under the 1989 Act, contain a wide range of requirements for making information available to the public, either direct or through myself, the National Rivers Authority, or the director general. For example, water undertakers will be required for the first time to publish information about the quality of water supplied for domestic purposes, both regularly and in response to individual requests for information. The National Rivers Authority will be required to maintain a public register including matters such as details of analyses of samples of effluent discharged by sewerage undertakers into controlled waters. The director general's register, which will also be a public document, will contain all key matters concerning appointments, and including information such as
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undertakings given under section 20(5)(b) relating to compliance programmes. Under section 34, I may arrange for the publication of information connected with the carrying out of water and sewerage functions as may appear to be in the public interest. And the director general's annual report, which must be laid before Parliament, will contain a general survey of developments within the scope of his functions.
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