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Walderslade, Chatham
Q.116 Mr. Rowe : To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Walderslade, Chatham.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Engagements
Q.125 Mr. Harry Ewing : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for St. David's day.
Mr. Evennett : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 1 March.
Mr. Stern : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 1 March.
Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 1 March.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 1 March.
The Prime Minister : This morning I had a meeting with the President of the European Parliament and presided at a meeting of the Cabinet. I also had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Environment
Q.142 Mr. Hunter : To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received on environmental issues.
The Prime Minister : The Government have received very many positive representations, particularly in relation to the proposals in the Environment Protection Bill.
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Confederation of British Wool Textiles
Q.164 Mr. Cryer : To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to the Confederation of British Wool Textiles office in Bradford.
The Prime Minister : I visited a textile mill during my regional tour to Bradford yesterday and was most impressed by the quality and enthusiasm of the staff and the excellence of the products.
European Community
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the programme for establishing the single market ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the trade which certain members of the Community have secured during the period of agreed European Economic Community sanctions ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : The Community has trade sanctions in place against South Africa only. Beyond the very limited scope of these, it is for individual member states to pursue trading relationships with South Africa as they see fit.
Policy Unit Staff
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the professional background of those joining her policy unit since 1979.
The Prime Minister : Those joining my policy unit since 1979 have had a variety of experience in a range of professions including : Accountancy
Administration
Banking
Business management
Company directorship
Economics
Engineering
Finance
Industry
Investment analysis
Journalism.
Coastal Protection
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Prime Minister if she will take steps to establish a ministerial working group to study the problems of coastal protection and sea defences and to co-ordinate the work of the various Departments concerned.
The Prime Minister : The policy responsibility for coast protection and sea defence rests, in England, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and elsewhere with the territorial Departments. There may be direct or indirect implications for other concerns but such co- ordination as may be necessary is already carried out with the relevant Departments.
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Office Running Costs
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if she will detail the reasons for the increase in the costs of running her office from £6.55 million in 1988 to £7.9 million in 1989 ; and what steps she is taking to reduce this increase.
The Prime Minister : The estimated increase in costs is due almost entirely to capital expenditure on refurbishment work and security improvements. The increase in the normal running costs of my office is less than one half of one percentage point in real terms.
Premium Bonds
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister what plans she has to ensure the security and non-infiltration of the Ernie draw by unauthorised persons.
The Prime Minister : All payments of premium bond prizes are made to winning investors, selected at random. The relevant accounts are audited by the National Audit Office, and the Department for National Savings is satisfied that there is no scope for abuse of the system.
TRANSPORT
A31, West Moors
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long it will take to intall safety fencing along the A31 trunk road at West Moors between Pinehurst roundabout and Boundary lane ; and what are the reasons for the time taken.
Mr. Atkins : The work will take about three months. This is because of the need for carriageway works to enable the central reserve to be widened to accommodate the 850m long safety fence without interfering with statutory undertakers' services.
Traffic (London)
Mr. Tracey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many communications he had received at the close of 28 February of consultation on traffic in London and the London road assessment studies ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : It will take a little while to collate and analyse the responses received. We shall make a statement as soon as possible.
A41, Apex Corner
Mr. Gorst : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he expects the road works on the A41 at Apex corner, where the turning into Mount grove has been closed, to be completed ; and if he will take steps to ensure that, once the central gap has been reopened, it will remain open on permanent basis.
Mr. Atkins : The works are expected to be completed in spring 1991. The right turn into Mount grove will then be restored. There are no plans to close it permanently. I shall continue to have regard to the safety of the trunk road network and will take appropriate safety measures wherever they are shown to be necessary.
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A Change in the Air"
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will obtain a copy of the transcript and video cassette of the television programme "A Change In The Air", on transport pollution, broadcast on 25 February, for his departmental library.
Mr. Atkins : We have already ordered the video. We do not need the transcript as well.
Channel Ferries
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review transport safety conditions and emergency rescue plans for cross- Channel ferries carrying toxic chemicals and spent nuclear fuel unable to dock in channel ports due to storms during the past month.
Mr. McLoughlin : Ships which carry dangerous goods conform to the international maritime regulations regarding construction, equipment and manning, and are capable of riding out storms of the type recently experienced in the English Channel. It is the decision of the ship's master whether or not to leave port.
Contingency arrangements already exist to deal with pollution arising from chemical spillages, or to recover irradiated fuel flasks from the seabed.
Pollution
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what initiatives he has taken to inform the public of the various transport options available with regard to their comparative pollution effects.
Mr. Atkins : My Department publishes annually in "Transport Statistics Great Britain" trends in emissions of pollutants from different transport modes. Pollution emitted by road vehicles is related to fuel consumption. My Department regularly issues a booklet about the fuel consumption of new cars which also advises motorists on how to save fuel when driving. It is generally well known that pollution may be reduced if people use public transport instead of private cars.
M1 (Congestion)
Mr. Marlow : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will institute a service advising motorists of those times on each day of the week that they can drive in either direction between junctions 6 and 12 of the M1 without being subjected to delays through congestion ; and if he will make it his policy to update this advice each time a significant roadwork is commenced or completed and in any event once every three months.
Mr. Atkins : The Department regards the provision of travel information as extremely important, and is considering with interested organisations ways of improving the reliability and availability of information through better arrangements for its collection, co-ordination and dissemination.
Congestion on the M1 between junctions 6 and 12 occurs more commonly during peak periods, of which the travelling public is generally aware. It can also arise for a number of unforeseen reasons, for example after an accident. The police, the media and motoring organisations provide an important service in disseminating news about congestion when it occurs.
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Information is already made widely available when roadworks are in prospect, in operation or about to finish. Only on Tuesday I gave a press conference about works due to commence on both the M1 and M25 in Hertfordshire. I am concerned that drivers should receive more information about delays and the reasons for them. With this in mind, new signs are being displayed in advance of roadworks advising drivers of the work being undertaken.Hackney Cabs
Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to reform the hackney cab knowledge test outside London ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : Outside London, district councils are the licensing authorities for hackney carriages. It is a matter for them whether to require prospective hackney carriage drivers to undertake a geographical knowledge test for the area in which a licence would apply. The Government have no plans to propose the removal of that discretionary power.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Hungary
Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Hungary.
Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is currently in Hungary. He arrived on 27 February and will leave on 1 March. He will be holding talks with Dr. Horn, the Foreign Minister, and other members of the Government, and will be meeting representatives of the major opposition parties.
South Africa (Sanctions)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) submissions have been received and (b) meetings have been organised with Government
representatives from each Commonwealth country since August 1989 on the subject of trade sanctions and South Africa.
Mr. Waldegrave : There were wide-ranging talks on South Africa at CHOGM in October 1989. Since then, there has been discussion of South Africa at both official and ministerial level as part of our normal contacts with Commonwealth Governments.
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the procedures adopted by the European Economic Community to ensure that Community sanctions legislation relating to South Africa is adhered to by member states.
Mr. Waldegrave : As with any legislation adopted by the EEC, the Commission has the duty under the treaty to ensure that it is enforced and applied by member states.
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Angola
Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to enforce the ceasefire agreed last year between the warring parties in Angola.
Mr. Waldegrave : The terms of any settlement of the dispute in Angola are for the MPLA Government of Angola and UNITA to decide. We have consistently stressed to both sides the need for an early ceasefire and negotiations without preconditions, and we support President Mobutu's work as mediator.
Ethiopia
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the civil war in Ethiopia.
Mr. Waldegrave : After a long lull in the fighting in Eritrea, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front launched a major offensive on 8 February. The fighting is still going on, but it appears that the port of Massawa is in EPLF hands. In their statement of 20 February, the Twelve expressed deep concern about the implications of the renewed fighting for the famine relief operations which are urgently required, and for the prospects for peace negotiations.
South Africa
Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications he has had with the Government of South Africa ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : We maintain regular contact with the South African authorities on a wide range of issues, both here and via Her Majesty's ambassador.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given to the provision of funds to the African National Congress and other political parties in South Africa to assist with the development of democracy.
Mr. Waldegrave : There is a case for practical assistance to those in South Africa who have previously been excluded from the political process. We are considering what practical help we can give in a non- discriminatory way.
Arms Reductions
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the position of the Bush Administration on the exclusion of certain air-launched missiles from the strategic arms reduction talks negotiations.
Mr. Waldegrave : Both the United States and the Soviet Union take the view that since these negotiations concern only strategic weapons, air- launched cruise missiles below a certain range should be excluded. The difference is that the Soviet Union want all such missiles with ranges of more than 600 km to be accountable, while the United States wants a higher range threshold.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's
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Government support the position of the Bush Administration on exclusion of air-launched missiles with a range of less than 1,500 km from the strategic arms reduction talks negotiations.Mr. Waldegrave : The United States and the Soviet Union have not yet agreed on the range at which strategic nuclear air-launched cruise missiles would become accountable under a START agreement. The START negotiations are between the United States and Soviet Union, and it is for them to reach an understanding on this issue.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the position of the Bush Administration on exclusion of air-launched missiles with a range of less than 1,500 km from the strategic arms reduction talks negotiations has been discussed in any official NATO meeting.
Mr. Waldegrave : The United States regularly briefs its allies at official NATO meetings on progress in the strategic arms reduction talks, including the situation regarding air-launched cruise missiles.
Nuclear Non-proliferation
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department are currently allocated to work on nuclear non-proliferation ; and if he has any plans to increase the departmental commitment to this work.
Mr. Waldegrave : There are 11 members of this Department working full-time on nuclear non-proliferation, including missile proliferation. In addition, there are a number of staff, both home-based and at posts abroad, who contribute to this work. There are no plans at present to increase the number of staff devoted to this issue.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to disseminate information to schools, colleges, universities, non-governmental organisations and other interested parties on the fourth review conference of the nuclear non- proliferation treaty.
Mr. Waldegrave : The arms control and disarmament research unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes notes on arms control on an approximately monthly basis, and a quarterly review. Both documents are circulated to a wide range of educational establishments and other organisations on request. Information about the non-proliferation treaty and the fourth review conference is regularly included.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during his recent visit to Czechoslovakia, the Minister of State, the right hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave), or his accompanying officials raised the forthcoming fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty with his hosts.
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Indonesia
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has of any improvement or deterioration in the human rights situation in East Timor in recent years.
Mr. Sainsbury : We have received diplomatic and other reports which confirm that there has been a sustained improvement in respect for human rights in East Timor in recent years. We have received reports of incidents which give rise to concern during the second half of 1989. We are watching the situation closely.
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received concerning the execution of four people who had been in detention for over 24 years in Jakarta on 17 February.
Mr. Sainsbury : The Indonesian Army confirms that four persons were executed on 16 February (Syryanto, Surono, Soleiman and Rohayan). There are unconfirmed reports of the execution of two others. On 21 February, the Twelve expressed their regret in the Presidency address to the UN Commission on Human Rights that these executions were carried out so long after conviction.
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the occupation of East Timor by Indonesia.
Mr. Sainsbury : Our policy with regard to the annexation of East Timor by Indonesia is to support the UN Secretary-General's role in promoting a settlement between Indonesia and Portugal. We believe that both parties will be concerned to find a settlement which fully protects the interests of the people of East Timor.
Namibia
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures Her Majesty's Government propose to take to help the Namibian economy.
Mr. Waldegrave : We are actively discussing with the future Government of Namibia how we can best help them after independence, in particular through the aid programme.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Brazil
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there has been further progress on the approval of projects under the memorandum of understanding with Brazil since the Minister for Overseas Development's reply to the hon. Member for Fylde of 15 February, Official Report, column 350.
Mrs. Chalker : As I announced earlier this week, the first project has now been approved by the Brazilian Government. This is an important five-year climate research project, involving the Institute of Hydrology. We
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are contributing some £2.5 million. The first field mission will start this September. We are continuing our discussions with the Brazilian Government on other project proposals.Indonesia
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have any plans to cut their aid to Indonesia in the light of continued human rights abuses there.
Mrs. Chalker : In determining the appropriate level of United Kingdom aid to individual countries, the Government take account of a number of factors, including the importance of human rights. Indonesia is in the low-income group of developing countries and we believe that the current level of British aid to Indonesia is appropriate in current circumstances.
WALES
Welsh Language
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many tutors are employed in a full-time capacity in Wales to teach the Welsh language to adults ; and whether his Department has any plans to increase the number of full-time tutors of Welsh for adults.
Mr. Wyn Roberts : This information is not held centrally. We are making available some £305,000 this year to colleges, voluntary bodies and other providers of adult education to help support activity in this area. We are currently considering the level of support for 1990-91.
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