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49. Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have put forward any proposals to enhance the role of the CSCE in European affairs and in relation to the security of European states ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : The NATO summit meeting on 5 and 6 July agreed that the CSCE should become more prominent in Europe's future, and that a CSCE summit later this year should set new standards for the establishment and preservation of free societies. The NATO summit also made specific proposals on the institutionalisation of the CSCE, including in the security field establishing a CSCE centre for the prevention of conflict that would provide conciliation of disputes involving member states, together with measures to increase transparency and confidence-building. The United Kingdom played a leading role in the formulation of these proposals, in particular in relation to the proposed
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centre for the prevention of conflict. The full text is contained in the NATO summit declaration, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.Mr. Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place at the recent CSCE conference on the human dimension in Copenhagen about the conditions under which the next conference is to take place in Moscow in September 1991 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : The annex to the concluding document of the Copenhagen CDH meeting reiterates the practices of openness and access which should be respected at forthcoming conferences on the human dimension. We have made clear to the Soviet Union on a number of occasions the human rights conditions which we consider must be fulfilled if the United Kingdom is to attend the Moscow meeting. We continue to monitor the situation.
57. Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the Council of Europe providing the framework for the structured consideration of CSCE matters.
Mr. Maude : The United Kingdom and other CSCE member states recognise the important expertise of the Council of Europe in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms and will be considering further ways and means to enable the Council to make a contribution to the human dimension of the CSCE.
Council of Europe
52. Mr. Lord : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will be seeking a revised and enlarged role for the Council of Europe in a new European framework ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : We believe that the Council of Europe has an increasingly important and valuable role to play in the development of democracy in Europe. With other member states we shall be examining the role of the Council in the architecture of the new Europe.
EC Policies
56. Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further proposals he intends to place before his European Community partners for the development of Community policies.
Mr. Maude : I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave him on 9 May and 13 June. We shall continue to play a constructive role in Community discussions.
Nelson Mandela
61. Mr. Gardiner : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet had discussions with Mr. Nelson Mandela.
Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I had friendly and positive discussions with Mr. Mandela on3 July about how best to take forward the process of ending apartheid in South Africa by negotiation.
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European Political Union
62. Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will be submitting proposals to the conference on European political union, initiated at the Dublin European conference ; and if he will publish a White Paper setting out the views of Her Majesty's Government on this issue.
Mr. Maude : We have already made a number of suggestions for institutional reform. These will be pursued in the preparations for and at the intergovernmental conference. We have no plans at present for a White Paper.
EC Summit, Dublin
66. Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Community summit in Dublin.
70. Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Community summit in Dublin.
Mr. Maude : I refer the hon. Gentleman and the hon. Lady to the statement my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made to the House on 28 June.
Korea
67. Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to encourage the peaceful reunification of Korea.
Mr. Sainsbury : We have consistently supported efforts to achieve the peaceful reunification of Korea. But our view is that this can be achieved only through direct contacts between North and South Korea. We welcome the resumption of contacts on 3 July at Panmunjom.
Chemical Weapons
68. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made through the chemical weapons convention in achieving a comprehensive and verifiable global ban on the production, possession and use of chemical weapons.
Mr. Waldegrave : Some progress has been made recently on technical issues in the negotiations in Geneva for a comprehensive, effectively verifiable, global ban on chemical weapons, but some key issues remain to be resolved, particularly verification. I will be visiting Geneva tomorrow to present a report on the United Kingdom's extensive series of trial inspections over the last two years at a number of Government-owned establishments. The practical lessons and conclusions drawn will, I am sure, be a valuable input to the negotiations.
77. Dr. Goodson-Wickes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received any information relating to geological specimens purporting to confirm the use of chemical weapons in Angola ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : A number of soil and vegetation samples purported to be from Angola have been examined by Government experts. The samples have not been found to contain any traces which would indicate the use of chemical weapons.
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Bulgaria
69. Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the United Kingdom is giving to help Bulgaria implement its democratic reforms ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have made no firm commitment yet of bilateral help to Bulgaria. The elections of 10 and 17 June mark a considerable step towards democracy. But, in view of residual doubts about some aspects of those elections, we shall still need to assess the policies of the new Government, and their commitment to political and economic reform, before we can extend aid.
United States Secretary of State
71. Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the United States Secretary of State ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Sainsbury : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs saw the United States Secretary of State at the G24 meeting in Brussels on 4 July and at the subsequent NATO and Houston summits. They discussed a wide range of subjects.
Seychelles
75. Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to pay an official visit to the Seychelles ; and if he will make a statement on relations with that country.
Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to do so. We have normal relations with the Seychelles' Government and an aid programme directed towards the needs of the Seychelles' people. As elsewhere in Africa, we have made it clear we support freedom of expression and genuine political participation.
Rights of the Child
78. Mr. Stott : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has yet set the timetable for ratification of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 9 May.
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has yet set a timetable for the ratification of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : The United Kingdom signed the United Nations convention on the rights of the child on 19 April 1990. We intend to ratify the convention as soon as possible.
El Salvador
79. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet the Foreign Minister of El Salvador to discuss the activities of death squads in that country.
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Mr. Sainsbury : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no present plans to meet the Foreign Minister of El Salvador. The subject of human rights is invariably on the agenda when we meet Ministers from that country. Most recently I raised it with Presidency Minister Altschul on 12 June.
French Foreign Minister
80. Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the French Foreign Minister to discuss developments in the European Community.
Mr. Maude : Apart from contacts in the margins of other international meetings, the last such meeting took place at the European Council in Dublin on 25-26 June.
Poland
83. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to further improve relations with Poland.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have close and friendly relations with Poland. High-level contacts are increasingly frequent. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Poland from 30 April--2 May and many more visits are planned this year.
We will continue to give substantial help to ease Poland's transition to a market-based democracy, including through the know-how fund.
Vietnamese Boat People
84. Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in the
intergovernmental discussions concerning the resettlement of Vietnamese boat people currently held in Hong Kong detention camps.
Mr. Maude : I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 24 May 1990 to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague). The next meeting of the full steering committee is expected to take place on 16-17 July in Geneva.
Western Sahara
85. Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European Community partners to obtain a joint approach to the western Sahara dispute.
Mr. Waldegrave : The Twelve have issued a statement supporting the United Nations Secretary-General's referendum proposals and welcoming their acceptance in principle by both parties to the dispute.
Aid Policy
87. Mr. Gerald Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make it his policy to use aid as a lever to promote democracy, human rights and free market economies.
Mrs. Chalker : I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's speech to the Overseas Development Institute on 6 June 1990.
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Economic and social progress depends to a large degree on effective and honest government, political pluralism, observance of the rules of law and sound market-based economic policies. The adoption or otherwise of such policies and practices is an important factor in deciding upon the level and form of aid we are prepared to provide to particular developing countries.Visas
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when Mr. Nazir Ahmed Qureshi, ref. TH/10238/89, is to be issued with a visa by the post in Islamabad ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) when Mrs. Azra Bibi, ref. GV/G100/8597, is to be issued with a visa by the post in Islamabad to join her husband in the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : In accordance with the guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, issued to Members on 14 December 1988, I have referred these questions to the correspondence unit of the migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Member will receive replies from the unit as soon as possible.
Nuclear Arms
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty he has received recently from the Mexican Government.
EC Foreign Affairs Council
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which extra-European territories European Communities Foreign Affairs Council decisions apply.
Mr. Maude : Responsibility for the Community's relations with third countries rests with the Foreign Affairs Council. Decisions of the Council applying to the territory of the Community apply to French overseas Departments, Martinique, French Guyana, Guadeloup and Reunion, and according to the precise proposal before the Council and the provisions of the EEC treaty can also apply to the dependent territories listed in part IV of the EEC treaty.
Brazil
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had any discussions with the Brazilian Government concerning the relationship between the military and non- governmental organisations working in the Amazon.
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on alleged threats made by the Brazilian superior war college to non-governmental organisations working with the indigenous peoples in the Amazon.
Mr. Sainsbury : We have no information other than that referred to in press reports.
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AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Slaughterhouses
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he proposes to implement and enforce his latest regulations relating to the handling of bovine brains in slaughterhouses.
Mr. Maclean : The Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989 require that specified bovine offal--which includes brains--should be excluded from food for human consumption. The practice in some plants of removing brains before recovering head meat intended for human consumption was raised with my Department, and, after taking advice from the Tyrrell committee, I have issued guidance to local authorities that head meat should be recovered from the intact skull before the brain is removed so that the requirements of the regulations can be met.
I am confident that these guidelines are sufficient to achieve their purpose. Nevertheless, it will be necessary for the Department shortly to be consulting on changes to slaughterhouse legislation to take account of future EC requirements and other technical amendments and I shall consider whether to include in those consultations proposals to give the guidelines legislative force.
Animal Feed
Mr. Livsey : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to require animal feed compounders henceforth to include only crop protein in cattle, sheep, pig and poultry rations.
Mr. Maclean : I have no plans to do so.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Mr. Livsey : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what research his Department is conducting into a possible link between BSE in cattle and maedi visna in sheep ;
(2) whether any research of which he is aware has established any links between BSE in cattle and maedi visna in sheep.
Mr. Maclean : Maedi visna is a disease of sheep caused by a well characterised virus unrelated to the unconventional agents which cause BSE and the other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Research into a link between the two diseases would therefore not be appropriate.
Bovine Somatotropin
Mr. Ward : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that milk produced by animals treated with BST can be identified by the consumer.
Mr. Maclean : This matter will be covered by the Food Advisory Committee's current review of food labelling.
Swine Swill Farms
Mr. John Garrett : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many swine swill farms are licensed in Norfolk.
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Mr. Maclean : Eleven such farms in Norfolk are licensed under the Diseases of Animals (Waste Food) Order 1973.Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural land has been designated as environmentally sensitive in
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England ; what percentage of land in the environmentally sensitive areas is farmed under this scheme ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Gummer : Some 3.4 per cent. of agricultural land in England has been designated as an environmentally sensitive area. Of the eligible land in each ESA which I targeted in the schemes some 92 per cent. is now being farmed under ESA agreement demonstrating the high level of interest among farmers in participation in this voluntary scheme.
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