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Chinese nationals or foreign nationals under the terms of the Chinese nationality law. This is a matter for the Chinese Government.Spain
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the agenda for his proposed meeting with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Sen or Ordonez, on 26 February.
Mr. Maude : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will be meeting the Spanish Foreign Minister in Madrid on 26 February as part of the process of talks on Gibraltar foreseen in the Brussels communique of 27 November 1984. In addition, my right hon. Friend hopes to discuss other matters of mutual interest.
Know-how Funds
Dr. Reid : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the enlargement and extension of the know-how funds for central and eastern Europe.
Mr. Maude : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced on 22 January that we will establish a single know-how fund for eastern Europe. This will include our existing commitments to Poland and Hungary, but we shall also make available a substantial sum of money to finance help to other eastern European countries once they are firmly committed to reform. Help, as with that we are giving Poland and Hungary, will take the form of advice, expertise and training in the skills needed to manage democratic and free market systems. We do not propose at this stage to put a figure on the size of the overall fund. Money will become available as we identify projects in the different reforming countries. This will give us the flexibility to respond to the different needs of the different countries as they arise.
Eastern Europe
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to eastern Europe.
Mr. Maude : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited east Berlin and the GDR from 22-24 January. He had meetings with the Prime Minister, the Foreign and External Economy Ministers, and called on the acting Head of State. He urged them to ensure that the forthcoming elections in the GDR are truly free and democratic. He also met leading opposition and Church representatives. He put forward a package of measures designed to help the people of the GDR.
Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the help offered by Her Majesty's Government to countries of eastern Europe in respect of democratic voting systems and parliamentary democracy.
Mr. Maude : We are actively considering ways in which we can help the countries of eastern Europe in this field. Groups of Hungarian and Polish politicians have already
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participated in successful seminars on the United Kingdom parliamentary system organised by the Great Britain/East Europe Centre. Budding politicians from Bulgaria, Romania, Czechoslovakia and the GDR will attend similar seminars in the coming months to look at our political and parliamentary system in order to help them organise their parties and electoral campaigns.In addition, the IPU is sending fact-finding missions to these four countries to determine how the IPU could be of assistance in the parliamentary field.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest assessment of the impact of the new political situation in eastern Europe on the conduct of United Kingdom foreign policy.
Mr. Maude : We warmly welcome the recent historic changes in eastern Europe and we shall continue to support the political and economic reforms which are now occuring. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs was glad to announce on 22 January that our know-how funds for Poland and Hungary will now be expanded to include the remaining countries of the region, as they move decisively toward democracy and the adoption of market-based economic systems.
El Salvador
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any representations have been made to the Government of the United States of America concerning their policies in El Salvador.
Mr. Maude : We have regular discussions with the Government of the United States on a wide variety of topics including El Salvador.
Ivory
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on which countries have entered reservations to the CITES ban on world ivory trade.
Mr. Maude : Seven countries have entered reservations against the CITES appendix I listing of the African elephant. They are Botswana, China, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom on behalf of Hong Kong.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much elephant ivory has been exported from Hong Kong since he announced the six-month exemption.
Globe 90 Conference
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department will be represented at the Globe 90 conference on economic development and environmental protection, to be held in Vancouver between 19 and 23 March.
Mr. Maude : Yes ; and the Department of the Environment will also be represented at the conference.
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Overseas Aid
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in ranked order, expressed in terms of expenditure in £ sterling per head of population, the amount allocated to direct overseas aid in (a) the European Community countries and (b) the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries for each of the last three years for which statistics are available.
Mr. Maude : The information is given in the table. Figures are available only for those countries which are members of the development assistance committee of the OECD.
Net Official Development Assistance (oda) per capita for
1986-88
from EEC and DAC countries in ranked order
£ actual
|Net oda/per capita
---------------------------------------------------------------
1986
EEC Countries
Denmark |92.56
Netherlands |81.44
France |62.85
Germany |42.79
Belgium |37.83
Italy |28.65
United Kingdom |20.88
Ireland |11.94
DAC Countries
Norway |130.54
Denmark |92.56
Sweden |88.81
Netherlands |81.44
France |62.85
Canada |45.02
Switzerland |43.79
Finland |43.41
Germany |42.79
Belgium |37.83
Australia |32.02
Japan |31.63
Italy |28.65
United States of America |27.00
United Kingdom |20.88
Austria |17.85
New Zealand |15.60
Ireland |11.94
1987
EEC Countries
Denmark |102.18
Netherlands |87.09
France |71.58
Germany |43.86
Belgium |42.48
Italy |27.83
United Kingdom |20.38
Ireland |8.79
DAC Countries
Norway |129.80
Denmark |102.18
Sweden |99.90
Netherlands |87.09
France |71.58
Finland |53.57
Switzerland |50.43
Canada |44.84
Germany |43.86
Belgium |42.48
Japan |36.69
Italy |27.83
Australia |23.53
United States of America |22.38
United Kingdom |20.38
Austria |16.19
New Zealand |16.04
Ireland |8.79
1988
EEC Countries
Denmark |100.70
Netherlands |84.83
France |68.98
Germany |43.27
Belgium |33.91
Italy |31.11
United Kingdom |26.01
Ireland |9.04
DAC Countries
Norway |131.32
Sweden |101.73
Denmark |100.70
Netherlands |84.83
Finland |69.01
France |68.98
Switzerland |52.02
Canada |50.67
Germany |43.27
Japan |41.82
Australia |37.37
Belgium |33.91
Italy |31.11
United Kingdom |26.01
United States of America |23.11
Austria |22.32
New Zealand |17.72
Ireland |9.04
Source: DAC Chairman's Report 1989.
Jammu and Kashmir
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on restrictions placed on British journalists reporting on affairs in Jammu and Kashmir ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : We understand the Indian Government have advised foreign journalists to leave Jammu and Kashmir for their own safety. We believe firmly in the freedom of the press, but in the last resort it is up to the local authorities to decide on whether to allow the continued presence of foreign nationals in an area of tension.
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom continues to support the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir problem by the United Nations proposal for a plebiscite ; what representations he is making to both the Government of India and the United Nations to uphold this proposal ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : Britain voted in favour of the various United Nations resolutions on Kashmir. Much has happened since, including the 1972 Simla agreement on bilateral relations between India and Pakistan. We believe the status of Kashmir can be settled only by agreement between the two sides.
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Council of Ministers (Business)
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
Mr. Maude : The information is as follows :
Forecast of Council of Ministers' business for February 1990 Council meetings
1. The following meetings are planned :
5 February -- Foreign Affairs Council.
12 February -- Economic and Finance Council.
12-13 February -- Agriculture Council
22 February -- Internal Market Council.
26 February -- Research Council.
2. The following subjects are likely to be discussed : A. Foreign Affairs Council
Trade relations with United States : progress report by Commission
Cars
Relations with East/Central Europe
CSCE : preparation of Bonn Conference
European Training Foundation
Youth Exchange Schemes for Eastern Europe
Mediterranean Countries : Policy Debate
Turkey
(Poss) Lome IV Transitional Measures
EMU (Procedure)
B. Economic and Finance Council
EC Loan to Hungary (10788/89)
Financial Regulation : Conciliation with European Parliament EMU Stage 1 : Presidency Paper on Revised Procedures
C. Agriculture Council
Price Fixing (4090/90)
Bovine Semen (9729/89)
Brucellosis in Sheep and Goats (9710/89)
(Poss) Proof of Export (Annex II Documents)
(Poss) Monitoring of Export Refunds (7548/89)
(Poss) BST (8975/89)
(Poss) African Swine Fever in Sardinia (9727/89)
(Poss) Food Aid for Poland/Romania
D. Internal Market Council
Rights of Residence (7706/89)
Public Purchasing :
Excluded Sectors
Compliance in the Excluded Sectors Presentation
Pharmeceutical Proposals :
Wholesalers ;
Packaging and Labelling ;
Non-Prescribed Retail Sales : Presentation
Insurance : Block Exemption : Presentation
E. Research Council
Adoption of 3rd Framework Programme
Adoption of following programmes under 2nd Framework Programme : (Poss) Human Genome Research
(Poss) Agricultural Research
Co-operation Agreement with EFTA Countries on Science and (possibly) Medical and Health Research
Common Positions on :
(Poss) EURET (Transport)
(Poss) EUROTRA (Revision)
Conciliation with EP on Framework Programme
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3. The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 5 February. Ministers will take stock of recent developments in EC/US trade relations including EC acceptance of the GATT panel report on the EC's oilseeds regime and the present position of the hormones dispute. The Council is expected to discuss relations with Eastern and central Europe, and preparations for the Bonn CSCE conference. There will also be preliminary discussions on youth exchange schemes for Eastern Europe (TEMPUS) and the European training foundation. Ministers are expected to discuss proposals from the Commission on European Community policy on Japanese car imports, and the Commission's paper on future EC/Mediterrranean relations, as well as the Commission's avis on Turkey's application for EC membership. Ministers will also be asked to agree transitional measures to cover the period between the expiry of the Lome III convention and the implementation, after ratification, of Lome IV. Ministers will discuss preparations for the inter governmental conference on economic and monetary union.4. The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 12 February to consider a medium term loan for Hungary. The Financial Regulation will be taken with an aim to reach agreement on a revision in March. The Council will also discuss the implementation of surveillance procedures during stage one of economic and monetary union. 5. The Agriculture Council will meet on 12 and 13 February to discuss the annual price fixing, bovine semen and brucellosis in sheep and goats. It may also discuss the proof of export relating to Annexe II documents, the monitoring of export refunds, bovine somatotrophin, African swine fever in Sardinia and food aid for Poland and Romania.
6. At the Internal Market Council on 22 February Ministers will discuss a number of measures relevant to the completion of the single market. Political agreement on the substance of the proposals for the three rights of residence directives was reached at the IMC meeting on 21 December. The question of the appropriate legal bases for the directives remains outstanding and is due to be discussed at the meeting on 22 February.
7. The Research Council will meet on 26 February. The agenda anticipates the adoption of two Research and Development programme proposals, human genome research and agricultural research, and the adoption of co-operation agreements withe EFTA countries on the SCIENCE (Stimulation of the cooperation and interchange of European scientists) and medical and public health research programmes. It is expected that common positions will be agreed on the EURET (Transport) and EUROTA (Machine translation) research programmes. The Research Council will also undertake the conciliation procedure with the European Parliament on the third framework programme for research and technological development, 1990-94 and may consequently be in a position to adopt the third framework programme.
SCOTLAND
Scottish Development Agency
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, by grade, the number of employees of the Scottish Development Agency who have resigned from the agency in each of the past 10 years, and the number of employees at a convenient date in each year.
Mr. Lang : The readily available information is set out in the table herewith :
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Number Employed Resignations
(whole-time equivalents)
Year (1 April to 31 |Managerial |Support |Total |Managerial |Support |Total
March) |staff |staff |staff |staff
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |- |- |723 |- |- |58
1980-81 |- |- |721 |- |- |48
1981-82 |- |- |717 |- |- |32
1982-83 |- |- |732 |- |- |35
1983-84 |- |- |711 |- |- |44
1984-85 |221 |430 |651 |26 |37 |63
1985-86 |315 |377.5 |692.5 |23 |21 |44
1986-87 |329 |354 |683 |19 |29 |48
1987-88 |349 |345.5 |694.5 |34 |24 |58
1988-89 |398 |286.5 |684.5 |38 |37 |75
Prior to 1984-85, most staff fell within Whitley council grades, with others coming into certain industrial and miscellaneous categories. Information on resignations by individual grades before 1984-85 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In 1984-85 a performance-related pay scheme was introduced for managerial staff under which staff were no longer positioned in grades. Each post is given a "job score" based on evaluation of the duties involved, for the purpose of determining salary level. I shall write to the hon. Member with the information by grade for the support staff from 1984-85.
North-East River Purification Board
Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the rivers for which the north-east river purification board is responsible and which are used as part of the Grampian water supply ;
(2) if he will make a statement on the current situation in the north-east river purification board with particular regard to the cancelled appointment of the post of general manager ;
(3) what are the current duties and structure of the north-east river purification board ; and whether there have been any recent changes in these duties and the structure of the board.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to the answers which I gave to him on 31 January 1990.
Govan Initiative
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if any of his Departments or the Scottish Development Agency has received from Govan Initiative its secure communities project report on Teucharhill ; and what responses they have made.
Mr. Lang : The secure communities project report on Teucharhill has not been formally submitted to any Scottish Office Department nor to the Scottish Development Agency.
Mr. Sillars : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contribution the Scottish Development Agency made to the Govan Initiative secure communities project ; and what proportion of the total it represented.
Mr. Lang : The Scottish Development Agency has made no direct contribution to this project, although it does contribute towards the funding of Govan Initiative Limited. The project has received Government support through the urban programme.
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Labour Clubs (Dundee)
Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Tayside indicating (a) how many police officers have been involved in investigating alleged irregularities in the running of the Labour clubs in Ardler, Menzieshill and Whitfield, Dundee, (b) how many police hours have been spent on their investigating, (c) what is the estimated cost so far and (d) how many reports have been made to the Crown Office and the procurator fiscal by the investigating officers.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I understand from the chief constable that six police officers have spent about 3,500 man hours investigating these matters at a cost of approximately £36,000. The investigating officers have made several reports to the procurator fiscal during this investigation, which is not yet concluded.
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