House of Commons Hansard Debates for 29 Nov 1989

Mr. Maude : We welcome the changes that are taking place in eastern Europe. Our policy of maintaining sound defences through NATO, and building up economic success in the EC, has been an important factor in the process which is now unfolding. This policy will continue. As individual countries in eastern Europe embark on genuine political reform, we are actively seeking, in common with our Community partners, to develop our relations with them and to encourage them with advice and practical help.

95. Mr. Robert B. Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on European Economic Community policy towards eastern Europe.

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Mr. Maude : The aim of EC policy has been to respond to and encourage reform in the emerging democracies of eastern Europe. The Community therefore differentiates in its relations with individual countries. The Community responds positively to significant progress towards genuine democracy and a market economy through appropriate bilateral trade and co-operation agreements, the extent of which depends on the reform being achieved.

110. Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place within the European Community concerning the entry into European Community territory by nationals of east European states.

Mr. Sainsbury : Discussions are continuing between member states in the European Community ad hoc working group on immigration on access to the Community by third country nationals generally, but there has been no specific discussion on east Europeans.

Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit eastern Europe ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no firm plans to visit eastern Europe at present, but hopes to include it in his travels at an early stage.

48. Mrs. Maureen Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being given to Poland and Hungary in their efforts to establish democracy.

119. Mr. Summerson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training in the technical processes of democracy Britain is offering to countries in eastern Europe ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave : We have invited groups of Hungarian and Polish parliamentarians to this country to learn about democratic procedures. We intend to invite further groups in the future. We also intend to help in other areas, such as the media and local government.

Namibia

32. Mr. Carrington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent elections in Namibia.

85. Mr. Brazier : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent elections in Namibia.

92. Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Namibia following the elections for a constitutional council.

102. Mr. Knowles : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent elections in Namibia.

Mr. Waldegrave : We warmly welcome the successful elections in Namibia and the unanimous adoption by the constituent assembly of the 1982 constitutional principles. We call on all parties to adhere to the remaining provisions of the United Nations settlement plan.

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43. Mr. Buckley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he intends to give to the newly elected Government of Namibia ; and if he will make a statement.

101. Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking in support of the newly independent and democratic Namibia.

Mr. Waldegrave : We will continue to give our full support to the United Nations' secretary general's efforts to ensure a peaceful transition to independence. We have already indicated our willingness to provide financial aid and, if asked, military training assistance to an independent Namibian Government after independence is achieved.

57. Mr. Hayward : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to support Namibia.

Mr. Waldegrave : We will continue to give our full support to the United Nations Secretary General's efforts to ensure a peaceful transition to independence in Namibia, and we look forward to discussing Namibia's requirements with the new Government after independence.

100. Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to meet the new Government of Namibia ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is looking forward to meeting the new Government of an independent Namibia at the earliest opportunity after independence is declared.

Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to visit Namibia.

Mr. Waldegrave : At present my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no firm plans to visit Namibia.

Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to support Namibia.

European Community

34. Mr. Ernie Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet his counterparts in the European Community.

Mr. Maude : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs expects to meet his EC colleagues at the European Council in Strasbourg on 8 to 9 December.

35. Mr. Aitken : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many draft and

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final European Community directives, regulations and decisions have been published by the Commission since 31 November 1988 ; approximately how many pages this represents ; and if he has any plans to improve scrutiny of European Community documents in future.

Mr. Maude : The Commission have been asked for information on the number of formal proposals issued during the period. When this is available it will be passed to my hon. Friend.

Effective scrutiny is essential. The Government will consider the Procedure Committee's forthcoming report with care and sympathy.

41. Mr. Gill : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the United Kingdom's priority at the forthcoming Heads of Government meeting in Strasbourg.

Mr. Maude : We hope the European Council will ensure sustained progress on measures necessary for the Community's healthy internal development, and effective Community support for emerging democracies in eastern Europe.

58. Mr. Moate : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the enlargement of the European Community.

Mr. Maude : According to the EEC treaty, any European state may apply to become a member of the Community. We agree with the consensus in the Community that the emphasis--until at least 1993--must be on consolidation, not enlargement. The Community's priority must be completion of the single market.

69. Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his counterparts in the European Council of Ministers ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maude : The Foreign Affairs Council met in Brussels on 27 November. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development and I represented the United Kingdom.

The Council discussed preparations for the Strasbourg European Council on 8 -9 December. The Council confirmed its agreement to a further package of trade measures for Poland and Hungary and agreed in principle to a draft Commission regulation on the disbursement of 300 mecu of assistance to the two countries. The Council welcomed a Commission report on progress made in exploratory discussions with EFTA on strengthening EC-EFTA relations : the United Kingdom and other member states now look forward to a joint EC-EFTA ministerial meeting on 19 December. The Council took note of a paper presented by the Commission on future relations between the Community and Mediterranean countries, which was remitted for further study. In the margins of the Council, a meeting of the EC-Yugoslavia Co-operation Council took place, and the Community expressed its support for the process of economic reform in Yugoslavia. Also in the margins, the Community position on all aspects of Lome IV was confirmed. The non-aid elements were agreed with ACP representatives. In the framework of European political co- operation, Ministers discussed the situation in eastern Europe, the middle east,

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southern Africa and central America, issuing a statement condemning the fresh upsurge in violence in central America. Copies of the statement have been placed in the Library of the House.

115. Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals have been received by Her Majesty's Government, other than those in the monetary sphere, concerning institutional development of the European Economic Community.

Mr. Maude : Proposals to establish a Community trade mark office and a European environment agency are under discussion in the Council. They do not require treaty amendment.

130. Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expect to meet the President of the European Commission ; and if the European social charter will be discussed.

Mr. Maude : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will next meet the President of the Commission on 30 November in London. The European social charter may be among the subjects that they discuss.

Nepal

42. Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the effect on the people of Nepal of the restricted flow of imports to that country through India ; and what representations Her Majesty's Government has made to the Government of India on such restrictions.

Mr. Sainsbury : We have been very concerned at the dispute between India and Nepal, in particular at its increasingly damaging effect on the people of Nepal and on their economic development. Nepal is an old and close friend of Britain, whose prosperity we have always sought to promote.

We remain closely in touch with both sides. The Indian Government are aware of our concern to see early negotiations leading to a mutually satisfactory settlement of this dispute.

Entry Clearance Applications

44. Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to reduce the time taken to process applications for entry clearance at British high commisions in Pakistan.

Mr. Sainsbury : The majority of visit visa applications in Pakistan are processed within 24 hours of receipt. In settlement cases waiting times for interview have been reduced this year following an increase in the number of permanent entry clearance staff and a further streamlining of procedures. I expect that waiting times will shorten still further during the coming year.

Spain

46. Mr. Boswell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his Spanish counterpart ; and if he will make a statement.

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52. Mr. Couchman : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his Spanish counterpart ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maude : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs meets his Spanish counterpart regularly at EC and NATO meetings. In addition, he will be going to Madrid next month for the annual bilateral talks on Gibraltar and other issues.

Commissioner Papandreou

47. Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met Commissioner Papandreou ; and what matters were discussed.

Mr. Maude : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has yet to meet Commissioner Papandreou.

Iraq

54. Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Iraqi Government concerning the human rights of the Kurdish people in Iraq.

Mr. Waldegrave : We regularly make clear to the Iraqi Government at all levels our concern over Iraq's human rights record, including the treatment of its Kurdish population.

Conventional Forces

55. Sir Hal Miller : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made at the CFE talks in Vienna.

62. Mr. Richard Shepherd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made at the CFE talks in Vienna.

Mr. Waldegrave : The negotiations on conventional armed forces in Vienna continue to make successful progress and a wide measure of convergence has already been achieved. There is a good prospect of an agreement being reached in the course of next year.

Central America

56. Mr. Eastham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in regard to the sending of a United Nations peace- keeping force to central America.

88. Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in regard to the sending of a United Nations peace- keeping force to central America.

108. Dr. Reid : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in regard to the sending of a United Nations peace- keeping force to Central America.

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Mr. Sainsbury : The formation of the United Nations Observer Group in Central America (ONUCA) was approved in Security Council resolution No. 644 on 7 November, with our support.

Berlin

60. Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to West Berlin.

83. Mr. Barry Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Berlin.

98. Mr. Franks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Berlin.

Mr. Maude : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Berlin on 16 November. He called on the acting Governing Mayor, Frau Stahmer, and visited Potsdamerplatz, the Brandenburg gate and the Reichstag. He saw the great excitement and happiness which followed the breaching of the Wall, and the tremendous efforts which the Berlin authorities are making to cope with the influx of new arrivals. He was glad to see the British Military Government and our forces helping with this work.

South Africa

61. Mr. John Carlisle : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to visit South Africa in the near future.

Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to do so.

63. Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now meet the President of the African National Congress of South Africa to discuss future developments to end apartheid.

Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to do so.

94. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with other Commonwealth countries concerning Commonwealth policy towards the Republic of South Africa in the light of recent reforms announced within the Republic.

Mr. Waldegrave : There have been no such discussions since the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in Kuala Lumpur from 18 to 24 October.

Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet the South African ambassador to discuss the situation of the railway workers under sentence of death in that country.

Mr. Waldegrave : No.

Argentina

65. Mr. Maxton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of relations with Argentina.

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Mr. Sainsbury : We have made progress towards more normal relations with Argentina, without in any way compromising our position on Falklands sovereignty. Last month in Madrid we were able to resolve a number of practical issues, and will shortly be resuming consular relations. A copy of the joint statement agreed in Madrid has been placed in the Library of the House.

We aim to build on this progress. Working groups will meet in Montevideo on 5-7 December to discuss measures to build confidence and avoid incidents in the military sphere and in Paris on 18-20 December to discuss fisheries conservation. We agreed to consider the question of diplomatic relations at our next substantive meeting in Madrid on 14-15 February.

Burma

68. Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Burmese Authorities that the elections promised for next year should be free and fair.

99. Mr. Quentin Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Burmese authorities that the elections promised for next year should be free and fair.

Mr. Sainsbury : Yes. We shall continue to make plain to the Burmese authorities that any elections which are not seen to be free and fair will be regarded as a sham.

Czechoslovakia

73. Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his assessment of developments in Czechoslovakia.

Mr. Waldegrave : The situation in Czechoslovakia is very fluid. We strongly urge the Czechoslovak authorities to permit the people to exercise their rights under the Helsinki Final Act and to open the way to peaceful political change, as has happened elsewhere in eastern Europe.

114. Mr. Ashton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protests he has made to the Czechoslovakian Government about the use of violence against the two British journalists, Edward Lucas of The Independent and cameramen Philip Bye of ITV.

Mr. Waldegrave : We protested both to the Czechoslovak ambassador in London and to the Foreign Ministry in Prague on 20 November about this disgraceful incident.

Baltic Republics

75. Mr. Livsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's present policy towards developments in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.

134. Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the present situation in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave : Successive British Governments have never recognised de jure the forcible incorporation of the

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former Baltic states in the Soviet Union. It follows that we respect the right of the peoples of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to say what their own future should be. Considerable progress has been made towards greater democracy in the Baltic states in recent months. We welcome this.

Pakistan

76. Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he may be able to give to the Government of Pakistan to help resolve their economic difficulties ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Sainsbury : We welcome Pakistan's return to the Commonwealth. We have an effective and growing bilateral aid programme for Pakistan. Last year we spent £23 million. During Prime Minister Bhutto's visit here in July, a memorandum of understanding was signed covering grants of £25 million for social sector projects.

Israel

79. Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement concering British relations with Israel.

Mr. Waldegrave : Relations with Israel are good.

Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions when (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department visited Israel during 1989 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave : I visited Israel in March. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office pay regular visits to Israel.

Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions when (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department met officials from the embassy of Israel during 1989 ; what was discussed ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave : Ministers and officials have frequent contacts with the Israeli ambassador and his staff to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for realistic peace negotiations developing from current international efforts to bring representatives of the Palestinian people and the Israeli Government to direct talks.

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