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Punjab
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protests his Department has made about the renewal by the Indian Government of martial law in the Punjab.
Mr. Sainsbury : None. Martial law is not in force in the Punjab.
Nuclear Weapons
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a copy of the report by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research on the prevention of geographical proliferation of nuclear weapons ;
nuclear-weapon-free zones and zones of peace in the southern hemisphere.
Science and Global Security"
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy that his departmental library subscribes to the journal "Science and Global Security".
Mr. Sainsbury : We understand that the journal "Science and Global Energy" will not be available for another four weeks. Issues of new journals are considered only after publication.
Non-proliferation Treaty
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, of 17 October, Official Report, column 78, he will set out the names of all United Kingdom-based
non-governmental organisations which have written to his Department on the non-proliferation treaty indicating those which have expressed concern over the United Kingdom's policy for the 1990
non-proliferation treaty fourth review conference.
Mr. Waldegrave : During the last six months, the only such organisation to have written in the terms described by the hon. Member is the European proliferation information centre.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what opportunity he took
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at the Commonwealth summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur to raise with the representatives of Guyana the matter of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the NPT fourth review conference, to be held next August, and the possibility of Guyana joining the NPT ; (2) what opportunity he took at the Commonwealth summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur to raise with the representatives of Tanzania the matter of the nuclear non -proliferation treaty and the NPT fourth review conference, to be held next August, and the possibility of Tanzania joining the NPT ;(3) what opportunity he took at the Commonwealth summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur to raise with the representatives of Zambia the matter of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the NPT fourth review conference, to be held next August, and the possibility of Zambia joining the NPT ;
(4) what opportunity he took at the Commonwealth summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur to raise with the representatives of Vanuatu the matter of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the NPT fourth review conference, to be held next August, and the possibility of Vanuatu joining the NPT.
Mr. Waldegrave : This subject was not discussed.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether during his recent visit to Washington DC, he raised with his American counterpart joint strategies to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and increase membership.
Mr. Waldegrave : No. But such matters are regularly discussed bilaterally in appropriate fora, most recently in the margins of the second preparatory committee, which took place on 11-15 September.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he raised at the Commonwealth summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur the matter of the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the possibility of (a) Pakistan, (b) India and (c) Zimbabwe signing the treaty.
Science and Peace
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Her Majesty's Government's policy is towards the Costa Rican resolution and proposal at the United Nations for a Government- sponsored and supported international week of science and peace each November.
Mr. Sainsbury : We have no wish to obstruct the measures envisaged in the resolution concerned, but doubt their value. We do not intend to allocate to them resources better employed elsewhere.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to encourage universities and other institutions of advanced studies, scientific academies and institutes, professional associations and individuals in the scientific community to hold during the week 11 to 17 November lectures, seminars, special debates and other activities conducive to the study and dissemination of information on the links between science and technology and the maintenance of peace and security, as agreed upon in United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/43/61.
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Mr. Sainsbury : Initiatives of this sort at the United Nations are no substitute for the serious endeavours in which Britain plays a leading part. We therefore see no advantage in taking specific steps to encourage institutions to participate in these initiatives.
Derek Smith
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he possesses concerning the arrest in Athens on 11 October of Derek Smith, a United Kingdom citizen, on charges of trying to sell uranium to a Greek nuclear research centre.
Mr. Sainsbury : Mr. Smith was arrested in Athens on 10 October 1989. He was subsequently charged with possession of radioactive material and smuggling and is remanded in custody. The case is under investigation by the Greek authorities. Mr. Smith is legally represented. Consular access has been granted.
General Affairs Council
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed at the Meeting of European Community Foreign Ministers on 14 and 15 October ; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting.
Mr. Maude : There were informal discussions on a range of Community and European political co-operation issues, including eastern Europe.
Radioactive Waste
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he took to ensure the factual accuracy of information released by the United Kingdom embassy in Oslo in regard to the proposals to examine the off-shore sub-seabed disposal of radioactive wastes off Sellafield and Dounreay.
Mr. Waldegrave : Her Majesty's embassy in Oslo was fully briefed on this matter by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of the Environment.
Global Resource Information Database
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the United Kingdom has given or offered towards the establishment by the United Nations of a global resource information database.
Mr. Sainsbury : The global resource information database is a powerful computer-based system designed to present a variety of natural resources information in a way that planners can easily use. It is based in Switzerland and funded by the United Nations environmental programme (UNEP). Britain has not only supported UNEP from its inception under the usual UN budgetary formula, but this year made a substantial voluntary donation which more than doubled our contribution to £3 million.
Hong Kong Register of Shipping
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the transitional arrangements for shipping on the Hong Kong register.
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Mr. Maude : Section VIII of annex I to the Sino-British joint declaration provides for the HKSAR to maintain Hong Kong's previous systems of shipping management and regulation and to continue to maintain a shipping register. Work is well advanced on the introduction of the new Hong Kong register which will remain in place after 1997. On its introduction, as a transitional arrangement, vessels then registered in Hong Kong will have the right to transfer to the new register.
Falkland Islands
Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the sale of Government houses in the Falkland Islands.
Mr. Sainsbury : The Executive Council decided on 15 August 1989 to sell a number of its 164 houses and flats because it wanted to encourage owner occupation, and because shortage of manpower made maintenance of Government houses difficult. The proceeds of the sales would be used to help finance new projects designed to reduce Stanley's housing shortage.
Offers to purchase these houses were made to 59 sitting tenants on 15 September.
A general election was held in the Falklands on 11 October and the newly- elected councillors are currently reviewing FIG's housing policy including the disposal programme.
Cambodia
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the proposal for an international mission to visit Cambodia to verify the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces.
Mr. Sainsbury : Our objective remains a comprehensive political settlement in Cambodia. An effective international control mechanism to verify Vietnamese troop withdrawal would be an important element of such a settlement.
Leonid Stonov
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about the case of Leonid Stonov of Moscow.
Mr. Waldegrave : Leonid Stonov is among those cases on which we press the Soviet authorities. Most recently my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised this case among others with Mr. Shevardnadze in New York on 29 September. We will not let up until Leonid Stonov is given permission to leave the USSR.
Kelman Family
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about the case of Boris and Alla Kelman and their sons Efim and Maxim of Leningrad.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have raised this case frequently with the Soviet authorities, most recently when my right
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hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Mr. Shevardnadze in New York on 29 September. We understand that Boris Kelman's secrecy restrictions have now been removed and the family should be free to emigrate. We will maintain our pressure until they actually leave the USSR.Toxic Waste
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the management of hazardous, toxic and industrial wastes in Gibraltar has been in full compliance with the 1980 Athens protocol to the Barcelona convention for the protection of the Mediterranean.
Mr. Maude : The information required is not immediately available. A reply to the hon. Member's question will be sent to him in due course.
Iraq (Aircraft Sales)
Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his colleagues in the European Community over the sale of jet aircraft to Iraq ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : None. We keep in close contact with our European partners over the situation in the Gulf. But policies on defence sales are a matter for the judgment of individual Governments.
Kurds
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports Her Majesty's Government have received on the conference on Kurdish culture held in Paris on 14 and 15 October ; and if he will make a statement on recognition of Kurdish national claims.
Mr. Maude : We have received a number of reports about this conference and the attitude towards it of the Turkish and Iraqi Governments. The Government do not recognise any claim to an independent Kurdish state, although we acknowledge the Kurds' cultural identity.
Defence and Disarmament Talks
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the non-governmental organisations present at the meeting on defence and disarmament developments held at the Foreign Office on 18 October ; and if he will set out the main areas of non -governmental organisation concerns and disagreements with his Department's policies.
Mr. Waldegrave : I held a meeting with non-governmental organisations interested in arms control and disarmament issues on 18 October. The major topics discussed at the meeting, held under Chatham house rules, were nuclear non-proliferation, START, the partial test ban treaty, conventional arms control, chemical weapons, international arms transfers, and East-West relations.
The following organisations took part :
The Council for Education in World Citizenship, Church of England Board for Social Responsibility, the European Atlantic movement, the National Peace Council, Peace
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Through NATO, Quaker Peace and Service, Scientists Against Nuclear Arms, the United Nations Association, Verification Technology Information Centre, the Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, World Disarmament Campaign, International Peace Bureau, European Proliferation Information Centre, British Atlantic Committee, British Council of Churches, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Centre for International Peace Building Studies, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Coalition for Peace Through Security, Committee for International Justice and Peace, Council for Arms Control, Families for Defence, Greenpeace International, British Pugwash Group, Programme for Promoting Nuclear Non Proliferation Safer World Project, Institute for European Defence and Security Studies.Regular bi-annual meetings between Foreign Office Ministers and non- governmental organisations on arms control and disarmament issues began in 1983 and are continuing.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information was given to the group of non- governmental organisations specialising in defence and disarmament issues in the meeting held on 18 October at the Foreign Office on the subjects of (a) Her Majesty's Government's policies and initiatives for the fourth review conference of the 1970 nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and (b) the forthcoming amendment conference for the 1963 partial test ban treaty.
Mr. Waldegrave : There was a general discussion of both subjects at the meeting which was one of a regular series held under Chatham house rules.
Export Controls
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting in Paris on 25 October of the Co-ordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls.
Mr. Maude : The co-ordinating committee (COCOM) held its annual high level meeting in Paris on 25 and 26 October. The meeting reviewed progress in COCOM's work and reached agreement on a work programme for the coming year.
Against the background of current international and industrial developments, partners recognised the need to maintain the process of streamlining COCOM controls whilst protecting their fundamental strategic security interests. The next high level meeting will be held in 1990.
British Citizens (Detention Overseas)
Mr. Stevens : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are in detention overseas ; how many of these are on drugs charges ; what were the comparable figures last year ; what action Her Majesty's Government is taking on this problem ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : A total of 1,318 British citizens were in detention overseas on 30 June 1989, the latest complete figures available ; 592 (45 per cent.) were on drugs charges. On 30 June 1988 the figures were 1,175 with 521 (44 per cent.) on drugs charges. Penalties for drug trafficking are becoming more severe--a number of countries now impose the death penalty. We have already taken measures to draw attention to the dangers of carrying and using
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drugs overseas in consular advice leaflets issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Short films have been distributed to television stations, tour operators and other outlets, each carrying a consular message. The drugs film has been widely broadcast. In addition drugs warnings are given in pamphlets issued with all passports and British visitors passports. The Department has engaged a firm of consultants to advise on carrying forward our consular information campaign, including the drug message. We continue to seize every opportunity to obtain free publicity for the dangers of carrying and using drugs abroad.Cash Limits
Mr. Stevens : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to make any changes to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic wing cash limits and running costs limit for 1989-90.
Mr. Sainsbury : The cash limit and running costs limit for class II, vote 1 (overseas representation) will be reduced by £85,000. The cash limit will be reduced from £453,855,000 to £453,770,000 and the Department's running costs limit will be reduced from £434,606,000 to £434,521,000. These reductions reflect a transfer of FCO payroll costs to Her Majesty's Treasury.
The cash limit for class II, vote 2, (other external relations) will be decreased by £500,000 from £171,998,000 to £171,499,000 which also reflects a token increase in provision of £1,000. The token supplementary allows for the transfer of savings to the Overseas Development Administration to finance aid to Poland, partly offset by an increase to finance the United Kingdom's assistance to Colombia in the fight against drugs.
Ivory
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has happened to the 58.9 kg. of ivory tusks seized by the Hong Kong authorities as detailed in his reply of 27 July, Official Report, column 861, and what information he has on the second case referred to therein.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 18 October 1989] : The 58.9 kg. of ivory tusks were confiscated and retained in safe custody by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, the CITES management authority in Hong Kong. In the second case, in accordance with legal advice, no prosecution was initiated, but the owner voluntarily surrendered the 15 kg. into the custody of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Civil Servants (Overseas Service)
51. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are currently serving overseas ; in what categories ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ryder : At 1 April 1989 there were some 6,200 civil servants serving overseas, of whom about 2,700 were members of Her Majesty's diplomatic service. Additionally, there were some 700 contract technical co -operation officers employed by the Overseas Development Administration.
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CIVIL SERVICE
Cash Limits
Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if there are any proposals to change the 1989-90 cash limit for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service.
Mr. Luce : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (class XX, vote 1) will be increased by £1,370, 000 from £33,819,000 to £35,189,000. The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
The increase is required to cover the additional cost of making physical security improvements to the Downing street complex and other buildings ; the cost of further refurbishment and maintenance in 10 Downing street (this cost is partially offset by appropriations in aid from the Property Services Agency) ; the cost of expanding the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel as recommended in Sir Robert Andrew's review of the Government legal services ; and the initial cost of improving the accommodation at the Civil Service college, Sunningdale park. The supplementary estimate also includes a transfer of provision between the Central Office of Information and the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service to reflect the transfer of responsibility for the information officers management unit to the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service along with an increase in provision to cover the cost of expanding the unit. In addition the supplementary estimate takes account of a reduction in provision as a result of transferring responsibility for conducting language allowance examinations to the Home Office and a reclassification of certain receipts.
Some of the increases have a consequent effect on the Department's running costs limit which will increase by £898,000 from £30,350,000 to £31,248,000.
Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee
76. Mr. Beith : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service which reports of the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee, relating to the Civil Service, have been the subject of a Government response during the current session ; and what further responses to such reports he expects will be published in the near future.
Mr. Luce : The Government have made one such reply relating to the "Next Steps" initiative, published today (Cm. 841). The reply reports good progress in implementing "Next Steps". A total of ten agencies have been established and some 40 further activities have been announced by Departments as candidates for agency status, with more to come. I am grateful to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee for the positive and helpful interest which it has taken in this most important initiative.
SCOTLAND
Rents into Mortgages Scheme
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any information of the number of tenants who may wish to participate in his rents into mortages scheme.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Since my announcement of the outline of the scheme earlier this year, there have been several hundred inquiries from people interested in purchasing under the scheme. We expect up to 5,000 participants during the three-year pilot scheme announced today.
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the operation of his proposed rents into mortgages scheme.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland today announced the issue by Scottish Homes of an explanatory leaflet which gives details of the rents to mortgages scheme and advises tenants how to apply. Copies of this leaflet have been placed in the Libraries of the House of Lords and of the House of Commons.
Factory Accommodation
Mr. Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assistance the Government propose to give in order to ease the demand for affordable factory accommodation in the Borders region in the light of the decision by the Scottish Development Agency that it could not develop prize sites due to a shortage of finances.
Mr. Rifkind : The Scottish Development Agency has not decided to curtail its involvement in the development
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of factory sites in Borders region. The agency is actively involved in targeting its resources to meet the requirements of industry in the area. This year, the agency has completed a 12,000 square foot block at Tweedbank industrial estate near Galashiels at a cost of £250,000. A further block of similar size is under construction and the agency has plans to develop another 15,500 sq ft of accommodation on this site. Other developments for specific companies are underway and the agency, in partnership with the regional council, is committed to considering the potential for developing a number of sites within Borders region.Protected Birds
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state for each of the last five years, and for 1989 to date (a) the number and locations of special protection areas designated under European Community directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds and (b) the amount of public money in constant 1989 prices spent in each of the last five years on meeting the United Kingdom's responsibilities and obligations in Scotland under that directive ; and if he will make a statement on the further implementation of the directive.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The following special protection areas in Scotland have been designated since 1984 :
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Site |District |Date designated ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Priest Island (Summer Isles) |Ross and Cromarty|1 October 1986 Loch of Skene |Gordon |1 October 1986 Loch Eye |Ross and Cromarty|1 October 1986 Gruinart Flats |Argyll and Bute |14 July 1988 Eilean Na Muice Duibhe (Duich Moss) |Argyll and Bute |14 July 1988 Bridgend Flats |Argyll and Bute |14 July 1988 Laggan Peninsula |Argyll and Bute |14 July 1988 Gladhouse Reservoir |Midlothian |14 July 1988 Din Moss-Hoselaw Loch |Roxburgh |14 July 1988
The information sought in part (b) of the question is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Government hope to be able to announce further designations soon.
Listed Buildings (Orkney)
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the principal inspector of historic buildings last visited Orkney to view listed buildings in the islands area.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : On 14 and 15 August 1989.
Contraception
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the breakdown of numbers of individuals receiving contraceptive advice and treatment by (a) contraceptive method and (b) source of treatment, clinic or general practitioner, in Scotland for the years 1987 and 1988.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The information available is as follows :
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|1987 |1988
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Family planning (clinic services)<1><2>
People attending |126,955|117,118
Contraceptive method chosen
Oral contraceptive |68,222 |64,342
IUD |16,099 |14,268
Cap/diaphragm |8,911 |7,597
Condom |15,622 |13,077
Other/not known/not applicable |11,755 |11,458
None |6,346 |6,376
Family planning (domiciliary) services
Women seen |2,994 |2,651
General practitioner contraceptive services
(as at 31 December)
Women registered with a GP for ordinary
contraceptive services or IUD fitting<3> |272,598|276,232
<1> Includes all clinic services provided including hospital, and
including any provided on an agency basis. Excludes any non-clinic
services which might be given to hospital inpatients or day
patients.
<2> Excludes data from 1 December 1987 for Fife Health Board where
the relevant information is not available.
<3> Excludes temporary residents.
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