---

Mr. Sainsbury : We welcomed the extra provision for Asian and African studies resulting from the Parker report. It has been helpful for our work in so far as we draw on institutions of higher education for expertise in language teaching and studies relevant to foreign policy issues.

British High Commission, Delhi (Sikhs)

Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Sikhs are employed by the British high commission in Delhi ; how many are employed as interpreters ; and what other positions they occupy.

Mr. Sainsbury : The British high commission in New Delhi does not ask for, or record, details of the religious affiliations of its locally engaged staff.

EEC Institutions (Powers)

Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent proposals he has had from the EEC about a further extension in the powers of Community institutions ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maude : I refer my hon. Friend to the statement on 1 May by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reporting the discussions at the informal European Council in Dublin on 28 April.

Israel

Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel about their funding of the intrusion into the traditional Christian sector of Jerusalem ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave : We have made clear to the Israeli Government our concern at this provocative action, and reminded them of our view that all Jewish settlements in the occupied territories, including east Jerusalem, are illegal under international law.

Vietnamese Boat People

Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation as regards the Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong and the trend in arrivals.

Mr. Maude : On 27 April 1990 there were 54,587 Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong. Out of that total, 10,910 are refugees, 8,111 have been definitively screened out as non-refugees and the remainder are awaiting or undergoing screening. The total number of arrivals in

---

Column 184

Hong Kong so far this year is 1,250, 64 per cent. less than in the corresponding period last year. Two thirds come from the south of Vietnam, a reverse of the trend in 1989 when the great majority came from the north. Sixty-five per cent. are ethnic Chinese.

Antarctic Bases

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present population of each of the five British bases in Antarctica.

Mrs. Rumbold [holding answer 3 May 1990] : I have been asked to reply.

The present (overwintering) population of the British Antarctic bases are :

Halley IV--20 ; Halley V--10 ; Rothera--15 ; Faraday--10 ; Signy--15. In addition, there are three people on the sub-Antarctic Bird island, South Georgia.

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy in respect of waste disposal from the five operating British bases in Antarctica ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold [holding answer 3 May 1990] : I have been asked to reply.

The British Antarctic survey (BAS) has always maintained stringent controls on safeguarding the Antarctic environment in the vicinity of its bases and elsewhere. These controls are currently being updated as part of BAS's current environmental management strategy and in line with recommendation XV-3 from the XVth meeting of the Antarctic treaty consultative parties, held in Paris in October 1989. From the 1989-90 season, all new waste materials, with the exception of human waste, are being brought out of the Antarctic and as much material from earlier activities is being removed as carrying capacity allows. The British Antarctic survey has appointed an environmental officer to co-ordinate the introduction of new procedures of waste management and improve environmental management further. He will take up his appointment in June 1990.

Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the programme to remove the United Kingdom abandoned Antarctic bases is expected to be completed, pursuant to recommendation XV-2 as agreed at the meeting of the Antarctic treaty parties in Paris in October.

Mrs. Rumbold [holding answer 3 May 1990] : I have been asked to reply.

Following the 1989 autumn public expenditure statement, funding was made available to assist the British Antarctic survey to remove surplus material and stored waste from these sites. This will be achieved as fast as the limitations of the Antarctic climate and ship time and capacity allow.

As part of its current environment management policy, the British Antarctic survey is commencing a detailed review of all unused British sites to consider whether they should be maintained as emergency refuges, removed or, in a limited number of cases, maintained as historic monuments.

---