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Multi-fibre Arrangement
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's current attitude towards the multi-fibre arrangement and detail the preparatory discussions that have been held with textile organisations regarding the arrangement.
Mr. Sainsbury : The Government continue to support the EC's position that the MFA should be phased out, after its latest extension expires next year, as part of the integration of textiles and clothing into GATT on the basis of strengthened rules and disciplines. Ministers and officials frequently meet representatives of the textiles and clothing industry to discuss the negotiations.
Leak Inquiry
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether he will call for information from the London International Financial Futures Exchange on dealings with the LIFFE short sterling contract market, the gilt futures market and the TSE 100 futures market in the 90 minutes immediately prior to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement of a cut in base rates and exchange rate mechanism entry at 4 pm on Friday 5 October ; (2) whether he will call for information from the London International Financial Futures Exchange on dealings in the LIFFE market in the 90 minutes immediately prior to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement of a cut in base rates and exchange rate mechanism entry at 4 pm on Friday 5 October.
Mr. Redwood : The London International Financial Futures Exchange is conducting a review of trading on 5 October before the announcement of entry into the exchange rate mechanism. This review has not yet been completed. However, the exchange has told me that the trading records of the individual firms and of the market as a whole provide no evidence of any prior knowledge of the announcement.
Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will call for
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information from the stock exchange surveillance department on dealings in the stock exchange in the 90 minutes immediately prior to the Chancellor's statement of a cut in base rates and exchange rate mechanism entry at 4 pm on Friday 5 October.Mr. Redwood : The International Stock Exchange has conducted a review of equity trading on 5 October before the announcement of entry into the exchange rate mechanism. It has told me that the trading records of individual firms and of the market as a whole provide no evidence of any prior knowledge of the announcement.
British Shipbuilders
Mr. David Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received the annual report and accounts of British Shipbuilders for 1989-90.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : In accordance with sections 17(9) and 18(6) of the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act 1977, I laid copies of British Shipbuilders' annual report and accounts for 1989-90 before each House on 27 July 1990.
Hospitality
129. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent by his Department on official hospitality in 1989-90.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 19 October 1990] : In the financial year 1989-90, the Department of Trade and Industry spent £298,000 on official hospitality.
Much of this was spent in support of the United Kingdom's trade activities, hosting receptions and meals for visiting Ministers and introducing British business to the right people from overseas.
Timeshare Industry
125. Mr. Allen McKay : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is to be taken to implement the recommendations in the Director General of Fair Trading's report concerning problems with the timeshare industry.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 19 October 1990] : We are currently considering Sir Gordon Borrie's recommendations.
Dangerous Goods
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries from companies registered to handle imported toxic hazardous and special waste his Department's dangerous goods advisory service (DAGAS) has received each month since its inception ; and for what proportion of inquiries DAGAS has been unable to assist.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 18 October 1990] : The dangerous goods advisory service (DAGAS) advises on the classification and labelling of packaged dangerous goods for international transport ; such advice is normally sought in the country of origin. DAGAS has received only two inquiries on hazardous and special waste since its inception ; assistance was given on both occasions.
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Grand Met/Elders Merger
Mr. Hoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he has received the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the Grand Metropolitan/Elders IXL pubs-breweries swap ; (2) when the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the Grand Metropolitan/Elders IXL pubs- breweries swap will be published.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 18 October 1990] : We have received the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the merger situations between Elders IXL Ltd. and Grand Metropolitan plc. The report was published on Tuesday 16 October.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Fish
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any grilse or salmon captured in Northern Ireland waters during the last five years and the current year have been identified as salmon ranching escapees.
Mr. Brooke : During the past five years, three salmon identified as escapees from salmon farms have been captured in the fish traps operated by the Department of Agriculture on the River Bush. This would indicate that insignificant numbers of escapees from salmon farms are reaching Northern Ireland.
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what investigations have been carried out into stocks of sea trout in Northern Ireland waters in each of the last 10 years ; whether any changes in numbers have been noted during those years ; and whether the factors causing variations in population or size of fish have been identified.
Mr. Brooke : No such investigations have been carried out during the last ten years. General observation of sea trout runs in Northern Ireland waters have shown no significant changes in population or size of fish.
Devolution
Sir Michael McNair-Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the progress of his talks with leaders of the political parties in the Province about a devolved administration ; whether he intends to continue with these talks ; what measure of agreement has been achieved ; and whether differences with the Government of the Republic of Ireland about their wish to be consulted have now been ironed out.
Mr. Brooke : My discussions with the leaders of the main constitutional political parties in Northern Ireland and with the Irish Government have produced a significant measure of agreement on a basis for talks which would address the various relationships relevant to the situation in Northern Ireland. These discussions are continuing with a view to resolving the outstanding matters to the satisfaction of all concerned through further discussion.
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Butter
Mr. Kilfedder : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made for the distribution of EEC intervention butter to pensioners.
Mr. Brooke : Fifty organisations have been designated to distribute beef and butter this year to the most needy in Northern Ireland under the EEC surplus food scheme. As in previous years the most needy in the United Kingdom have been defined as including the homeless and destitute, people in receipt of income support or family credit and people living in welfare hostels. Pensioners who fall into one of these categories will qualify for free food.
Stevens Inquirry
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of (a) the Royal Ulster Constabulary, (b) the Ulster Defence Regiment, (c) the Northern Ireland Prison Service and (d) the Regular Army were questioned in the course of the Stevens inquiry in relation to (i) the loss or transfer of confidential security force files, (ii) the death of Mr. L. Maginn, (iii) the death of Mr. P. Finucane and (iv) other matters.
Mr. Cope [holding answer 17 October 1990] : The information in the form requested is not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, I understand that during the investigations carried out by DCC Stevens's inquiry team more than 1, 900 written statements were taken from witnesses and suspects, including those from members of the RUC, Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Regular Army (including the UDR).
Pipe (Limavady)
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will specify who is responsible for the pipe at Ruchie Park, Drumsurn, Limavady.
Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 18 October 1990] : I am aware that there is uncertainty about which authority is ultimately responsible for this pipeline. This uncertainty is being resolved. Meanwhile the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has undertaken to remove any blockages from the pipe which might occur.
I will write to the hon. Gentleman once the matter is resolved.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Diego Garcia
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation there has been between his Department and its counterparts in the United States of America concerning the United States bases in Diego Garcia, following the publication of the national security strategy of the United States in March.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have continued our traditional process of close consultation with the United States authorities over the United States navy support facility on Diego Garcia.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining any progress made towards returning Diego Garcia to Mauritius.
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Mr. Waldegrave : The position remains that the territory will be ceded to Mauritius when it is no longer required for defence purposes. In present circumstances the defence facilities in British Indian Ocean territory continue to make a vital security contribution and we envisage no change in the status of the territory in the foreseeable future.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation there has been between his Department and the relevant departmental ministers in the United States concerning overflights on Diego Garcian territory.
Mr. Waldegrave : We consult fully the US authorities on overflights whenever the need arises.
COCOM
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all countries for which the policies and rules of the Co-ordinating Committee on Multilateral Exports have been changed since January 1989.
Mr. Waldegrave : The German Democratic Republic was removed from the Co-ordinating Committee (COCOM) list of proscribed destinations following unification on 3 October 1990 with the Federal Rupublic of Germany. This is being given effect through a change to the Export of Goods Control Order 1989 (SI 2376).
Poland
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guarantees have been agreed to safeguard the current western boundaries of Poland where they join those of Germany.
Mr. Waldegrave : Under the treaty on the final settlement with respect to Germany, Germany's borders, including the border with Poland, are definitive and it is stated that Germany has no territorial claims whatsoever and shall not assert any in the future. The Polish Foreign Minister, who took part in the two-plus-four negotiation on this subject, has expressed satisfaction at this outcome.
Tibet
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to meet the Dalai Lama to discuss the impact of Chinese involvement in Tibet and restrictions on religious practices.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no such plans.
Immigration
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the current queues for applications for entry clearance in each category for the latest available month, and the numbers in each queue, for the posts at (a) Bombay, (b) Karachi, (c) New Delhi, (d) Nairobi, (e) Calcutta, (f) Islamabad and (g) Dar-es-Salaam.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : As at 30 September, the estimated waiting times (in months) are :
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Table file CW901022.025 not available
Settlement |Q1
---------------------------------
(a) |Bombay
(b) |Karachi
(c) |New Delhi
(d) Nairobi
|days
(e) Calcutta
(f) |Islamabad
(g) Dar-es-Salaam
|weeks.
<1> As at 31 August.
The number of people waiting as at 30 September is as follows :
2
|Q1 |Q2 |Q3 |Q4
--------------------------------------------------
Bombay |0 |246 |490 |130
Karachi |8 |76 |22 |<1>6
New Delhi |0 |302 |330 |117
Islamabad |105 |2,227 |302 |<1>265
Calcutta }
Nairobi } Have no queues at present
Dar-es-Salaam}
<1> As at 31 August.
Table file CW901022.028 not available
Settlement queues are organised as follows :
Q1--Persons with a claim to the right of abode, dependant relatives over 70 years, special compassionate cases.
Q2--All spouses, and all children under 18 years.
Q3--Fiance (e)s and others applying for the first time for settlement.
Q4--Re-applicants.
During periods of seasonal high demand applicants for visit visas in Islamabad requiring a full interview can expect to wait up to five days. Elsewhere they are dealt with on the day of application.
Eastern Europe
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff have been transferred from DG VIII in the European Community to work on PHARE, or other forms of European Community assistance to eastern Europe ; and how many of these have been replaced.
Mr. Garel-Jones : A total of three members of DG VIII in the Commission applied for transfer to work on the Community's assistance programme for eastern Europe. All three positions vacated in DG VIII have been re-filled.
Iraq
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any representations to the Government of the People's Republic of China concerning the proposed sale of 7 tonnes of lithium hydride by the North China Industries Corporation (NORINCO) to Iraq in October, in contravention of United Nations resolution 661 on trade with Iraq agreed in August.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have made representations about the reported activities of this company to the Chinese Government, who have assured us that they are applying the UN trade embargo fully and have not acted in contravention of UNSCR 661.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has raised with his
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counterpart in the Federal Republic of Germany the role of German companies in the covert provision of technologies to Iraq that have uses in chemical or nuclear weapon production.Mr. Waldegrave : We are in constant touch with the Governments of Germany and other friendly countries exchanging information about the practical implementation of UN Security Council resolution 661. We are closely co-operating on this shared objective.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any representations to his counterpart in Chile concerning the role of the Cardoen Company in Chile in providing military equipment to Iraq.
Mr. Waldegrave : This matter has been raised with the Chilean Government and we have received assurances that they are complying with the terms of UNSCR 661.
Romania
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the current guidelines in Romania for the adoption of children by applicants from the United Kingdom, including the guidelines for the adoption of mentally handicapped children.
Mr. Waldegrave : I am arranging for a translation of the relevant Romanian Act of Parliament to be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received any request for funding from the Romanian Government to permit the operation of a second television channel in their country.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he has given to the Romanian health authorities concerning the trials of a drug invented by Mr. David Hughes with children suffering from AIDS in Colentia hospital, Bucharest.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have passed on to the Romanian authorities information received from British medical experts about Mr. Hughes' background and the drug that he has been testing.
Conference on Security and Co-operation
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the 35-nation conference on security and co-operation in Europe, held in New York on 1-2 October.
Mr. Waldegrave : The CSCE Foreign Ministers conference provided a useful forum to review the preparatory work being carried out for the CSCE summit, to be held in Paris on 19-21 November. Ministers' discussions reflected a convergence of views regarding the scope and objectives of the summit and the major new steps which are now possible for the CSCE process. They agreed that the role of the CSCE must be enhanced to
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respond to new opportunities for co- operation. We look forward to measures for such enhancement being endorsed at the Paris summit, enabling us to turn the CSCE from a process into an organisation.Nuclear Non-proliferation
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been undertaken by Her Majesty's Government to encourage South Africa to become a signatory of the non- proliferation treaty.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have urged South Africa to accede to the NPT on numerous occasions, notably at meetings between South African and NPT depository powers representatives. The most recent such meeting was held in Vienna on 11-12 December 1989.
I raised this matter with the South African Government during my visit to South Africa on 19 September.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have called on any non-proliferation treaty signatory state to complete subsidiary safeguard arrangements with the International Atomic Energy Agency since the fourth non-proliferation treaty review conference.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline any changes in Her Majesty's Government's policy on the responsibilities of the non-proliferation treaty signatories between the disarmament committee of 23 February 1967 and the present day.
Mr. Waldegrave : Our policy on the responsibility of NPT signatories remains that they should abide by their commitments under the treaty. As regards the clauses relating to disarmament, we welcome the progress made in this direction since 1967 through SALT and the INF and CFE treaties, and we look forward to an early conclusion of the START negotiations and the ratification of the threshold test ban treaty and the peaceful nuclear explosions treaty.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining Her Majesty's Government's position on article VII of main committee II in the recent fourth non-proliferation treaty review conference relating to South African nuclear capability.
Mr. Waldegrave : A proposal to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Africa was discussed in main committee 2 of the fourth NPT review conference. In principle we are in favour of such a zone because of its nuclear non-proliferation benefits. We have called upon South Africa on many occasions to submit all its nuclear installations and facilities to IAEA safeguards and to accede to the non-proliferation treaty.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what correspondence he has received from the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the European proliferation information centre concerning the fourth non-proliferation treaty review conference.
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Mr. Waldegrave : This Department has received several letters from members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament about nuclear non- proliferation issues since the fourth non-proliferation treaty review conference. To the best of my knowledge, we have not received any recent correspondence from the European proliferation information centre.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to promote a nuclear weapons-free zone in the middle east since the adoption of paragraph 13 in article VII of the nuclear non- proliferation treaty.
Mr. Waldegrave : The United Kingdom has since 1980 joined consensus in the first committee of the United Nations General Assembly on successive resolutions sponsored by Egypt calling for a middle east nuclear-weapons- free zone, making clear that our support is conditional on such a zone being acceptable to all states in the region.
Middle East
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments relating to British hostages held in Beirut.
Mr. Waldegrave : I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 15 October at column 752 to the hon. Member for St. Helens, North (Mr. Evans).
Military Training
Mr. O'Neill : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any companies have contacted his Department to seek approval for the provision of military training for foreign military forces.
Mr. Waldegrave : Companies intending to provide military training for foreign military forces would be required to request approval from the Government only if such training involved the release of United Kingdom classified information. We have no record of any request of this nature being made to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Visa Applications
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications for visits to the United Kingdom are outstanding in respect of (a) Poland, (b) Czechoslovakia, (c) Romania and (d) Hungary ; how many have been refused in the last 12 months ; what is the fee payable by applicants in each of the countries listed ; and what happens to the fee if an application is refused.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 19 October] : Visas were abolished for Czechoslovakia and Hungary on 1 October 1990. Information in respect of applications lodged at our embassies in Warsaw and Bucharest is as follows :
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Country |Visa applications|Refusals
|outstanding |(October 1989-
|September 1990)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Poland |17 |2,484
Romania |<1>371 |23
<1>Includes other foreign nationals.
The visa fee is £20 world wide, payable in local currency. The fee is charged when an application is formally lodged, and is non-refundable in the event that the application is refused. Visa fees contribute to the administrative costs of processing visa applications, which are incurred whether or not a visa is issued.
TRANSPORT
Dartford Bridge
Mr. Evennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects construction of the southern approach to the Dartford bridge to be completed.
Mr. Freeman : Full completion is due by the end of 1991.
Network SouthEast
10. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the quality of service currently being provided by Network SouthEast.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Government have set tough quality of service objectives. Network SouthEast is making every effort to meet them and is investing £1.2 billion over this and the next two years.
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