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UK Foreign Policy (Far East)

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit the far east to discuss the implications of United Kingdom foreign policy.

Mr. Goodlad: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam in September. He has no immediate plans to visit the region again.

Kashmir

Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet with groups in the United Kingdom campaigning for a resolution to the problems of Indian-held Kashmir.

Mr. Baldry: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans to meet such groups.

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of Kashmir.

Mr. Baldry: We believe that the best way forward on Kashmir should involve simultaneous progress on dialogue between India and Pakistan as provided for under the 1972 Simla agreement; an improvement in human rights in Kashmir and a genuine political process there; and a clear cessation of external support for violence in Kashmir.

Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives he has promoted to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in advance of its 1995 review and renewal conference.

Mr. David Davis: We are working hard for the indefinite and unconditional extension in unamended form of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 1995. We believe such an extension will send a clear message to would-be proliferators of the international community's resolve to prevent any proliferation of nuclear weapons. We are actively seeking with our European Union partners the universality of the treaty, which, with 165 members, is the most widely adhered to arms control agreement in history.

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We support work underway in the International Atomic Energy Agency to strengthen the agency's safeguards system which is key to the successful implementation of the treaty.

Taiwan

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Her Majesty Government's relationship with Taiwan.

Mr. Goodlad: Although the United Kingdom has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, we attach great importance to our commercial, cultural and educational links. United Kingdom exports for the period January to August 1994 were £448 million, an increase of over 13 per cent. compared with the same period in 1993. The British trade and cultural office in Taipei is being reinforced with additional staff to develop these links.

Middle East

Mr. Ernie Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the middle east peace process.

Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the peace process in the middle east.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: We fully support the middle east peace process and welcome the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, recent signs of progress on the Syrian track and continuing negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the likely impact of the closure of the Gaza strip and the west bank on the middle east peace process; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: Closure of the Gaza strip and west bank has a serious effect on the economy of the occupied territories. It is estimated that more than 60,000 Palestinians go to work in Israel from the occupied territories, and that about one third of the gross product of the territories comes from the wages of Palestinians working in Israel. We are pleased to hear that the closure was being lifted gradually from 1 November.

Hong Kong

Mr. Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to bring trade union law in Hong Kong into line with International Labour Office conventions.

Mr. Goodlad: Trade union law in Hong Kong is already broadly in line with the standards specified in international labour conventions. For example, the five ILCs relevant to trade unions which have been ratified by the United Kingdom have been applied to, and implemented in, Hong Kong, mostly without modification. The Hong Kong Government review trade union law regularly to keep it in line with international standards.

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China

Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to hold discussions with the People's Republic of China.

Mr. Goodlad: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the Chinese Foreign Minister in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly last month. He has no plans to do so again in the immediate future.

Ganges and Bramaputra Rivers

Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with India and Bangladesh about their dispute about the water from the Ganges and Bramaputra rivers.

Mr. Baldry: None. This situation can be resolved only through bilateral negotiations between the Indian and Bangladeshi Governments. I hope that both sides can work towards an agreement soon.

Angola

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in the Angolan peace talks.

Mr. Baldry: The Angolan Government and Unita initialled a peace agreement in Lusaka on 31 October. The next step is for the two sides to hold talks on military issues, including a ceasefire. After these have been concluded, the parties are then expected to sign the agreement.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Grocott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average cost to his Department of answering (a) a written and (b) an oral parliamentary question.

Mr. Baldry: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 30 November 1993, Official Report , column 391 .

Bombing (Tel Aviv)

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Israeli Government concerning their decision to seal off the Gaza strip and west bank in response to the Tel Aviv bombing; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: We raised with the Israeli Government the closure of the west bank and Gaza strip. We are pleased to hear that the closure is being lifted gradually from 1 November.

North Korea

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations or communications he had from the United States Secretary of State prior to the agreement with North Korea over its nuclear programme; and what assistance or opportunities are available to Her Majesty's Government or British companies to meet the aims of the agreement.

Mr. David Davis: We have been in frequent contact with the United States at both ministerial and official level

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throughout the crisis over North Korea's nuclear programme. We have welcomed the framework agreement signed by the United States and North Korea on 21 October. As part of that agreement, the United States has undertaken to put together an international consortium, the Korean Energy Development Organisation, to provide North Korea with two light water reactors and to help it meet its energy needs while those reactors are under construction. We have told the Americans that we are prepared to offer technical advice to KEDO, but that no United Kingdom funds will be available. We shall, of course, facilitate the involvement of any United Kingdom companies that wish to bid for any part of the reactor project business. We understand that South Korea and Japan will play a central role in the financing and construction of the reactors.

School Fees

Mr. Grocott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs how many members of his Department are entitled to have school fees paid from public funds; what is the total current cost; and which schools receive the payments.

Mr. Goodlad: All Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff serving overseas, or expecting to serve overseas again after no more than five years in the United Kingdom, are entitled to boarding school allowance. A total of 726 diplomatic service and Overseas Development Administration staff currently receive the allowance, at a total cost of £8,690,277 in 1993 94. A list of the schools receiving payments is given below.

Officers whose children accompany them overseas are entitled to educate them at public expense where no suitable free schooling is available. Details of the number of officers receiving this local allowance or of the schools involved are not available. The total cost in respect of diplomatic service officers in 1993 94 is £2,310, 477. There are not comparable figures for the ODA.

Abbotsholme School

Aberlour House

Ackworth School

Aldenham School

Aldro School

All Hallows School

Ampleforth College (Giling CS)

Ardingly College

Ashdown House School

Ashford School

Ashley Moor College

Ashville College

Atlantic College

Badminton School

Barrow Hills School

Battle Abbey School

Beaconhurst Grange

Bearwood College

Beaudesert Park

Bedales School

Bedford High School

Bedford School

Bedgebury School

Bembridge School

Benenden School

Bentham Grammer School

Berkhamsted School

Berkhamsted School for Girls

Bethany School

Bishop's Stortford College

Bloxham School

Blundell's School

Bootham School

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Box Hill School

Bradfield College

Brambletye School

Bramcote School

Brandeston Hall

Brentwood School

Brighton College

Brockhurst

Bromsgrove School

Brooke House 6th Form

Bryanston School

Burgess Hill School

Bushey Place School

Caldicott

Cambridge Arts Tutors

Cambridge Centre

Canford School

Cannock School

Cargilfield Carmel College

Caterham School

Catteral Hall

Charmandean School

Charterhouse School

Charters-Ancaster College

Cheadle Hulme

Cheltenham College Junior School

Cheltenham Ladies College

Chichester College of Tech

Christ College, Brecon

Christs College, London

Claremont Fan Court School

Clarendon School

Clayesmore School

Clifton College

Cobham Hall

Cokethorpe School

College of the Sacred Hearts

Combe Bank School

Cottesmore School

Cranbrook School

Cranleigh School

Croftdown School

Croftinloan School

Crown Woods Lodge

Cumnor House

d'Overbroeck's

Daniel Stewart's and Melville

Dauntseys School

Dean Close School

Dollar Academy

Dorset House School

Douai School

Dover College

Dover College Prep School

Downe House School

Downside School

Dragon School

Duff Millar 6 Form College

Duke of York's

Dulwich College

Dulwich College Prep School

Durham School

East Court

Eastbourne College

Edgarley Hall

Edgeborough

Edgehill College

Edinburgh Academy

Edinburgh House School

Ellerslie School

Ellesmere College

Elmhurst Ballet School

Elstree College

Embley Park School

Epsom College

Eton College

Farleigh School

Farlington School

Farringtons School

Felixstowe College

Felsted School

Feltonfleet School

Fernden School

Fernhill Manor

Ferrington Hall Prep School

Fettes College

Forest School

Forres School

Framlingham College

Freefolk House

Frensham Heights School

Friars School

Friends School

Fulneck Girls School

Giggleswick School

Glenalmond College

Godstowe School

Gordons School

Gordonstoun School

Grace Dieu Manor School

Grange House School

Great Walstead School

Greenacre School

Grenville College

Greshams School

Grove School

Guildford College of Technology

Haileybury Junior School

Handcross Park School

Hanford School

Harptpurey College

Harrow School

Harrowgate College

Hawtreys (Prep School)

Headfort School

Headington School

Heathfield School

Hetherset Old Hall School

Highfield School

Highgate School

Holly House

Holmewood House School

Holy Family (Convent of the)

Hordle House

Howell's School

Hunmanby Hall

Hurst Lodge

Hurstpierpoint

Hurtwood House

Indefatigable

Ipswich School

James Allen's Girls School

Kelly College

Kent College, Canterbury

Kent College, Tunbridge Wells

Keswick School

Kilgraston School

Kimbolton School

King Edward's School

King's College, Taunton

King's School (The), Canterbury

King's School, Bruton

King's School, Ely

Kingham Hill

Kings School

Kingswood School

Knighton House

Lambrook School

Lancing College

Landsdowne

Lavant House School

Lawnside School

Leighton Park School

Leys School

Licen Victs School

Lindisfarne College

Lockers Park

Lomond School

Longridge Towers School

Loretto School

Luckley - Oakfield School

Maltman's Green

Malvern College Junior School

Malvern Girl's College

Mander Portman Woodward Ltd.

Marlborough College

Marlborough House School

Marshcourt

Mary Erskine School

Mayfield College

Merchant Taylor's School

Merchiston Castle School

Methodist College

Michael Hall School

Micklefield School

Mill Hill School

Millfield School

Moira House School

Monkton Combe Junior School

Monkton Combe School

Monmouth School

Moor Park School

More House School

Morrison's Academy

New Hall School

Newlands Manor School

North Foreland Lodge School

Northaw School

Notre Dame Convent School

Oakdene School

Oakham School

Oratory Prep School (The)

Oratory School (The)

Oswestry School

Oundle School

Oxford Tutorial College

Padworth College

Pangbourne College

Papplewick

Parkside School

Parsons Mead School

Pennthorpe School

Philpots Manor School

Pierrepont School

Pilgrims' School

Pipers Corner School

Plymouth College

Pocklington School

Polam Hall

Port Regis

Princess Helena School

Prior Park College

Prior Park Prep School

Prior's Field School Priors Court

Quantock School

Queen Anne's School

Queen Margarets School

Queens College

Queenswood

Radley College

Rannoch School

Read School

Reading Blue Coat School

Reed's School

Repton Preparatory School

Rickmansworth Masonic School

Ripley Court

Rishworth School

Roedean School

Rosemead School

Rossall School

Royal Alex. & Albert School

Royal Hospital School

Royal Naval School

Royal Russel School

Rugby School

Rydal School

Rye St. Antony School

Sacred Hearts School

Sandroyd School

Scraborough College

School of St Clare

Seaford College

Sedbergh School

Sevenoaks School

Shapwick School

Sherborne Sch Int Study Centre

Sherborne School

Sherborne School for Girls

Shiplake College

Shoreham Grammar School

Shrewsbury School

Sibford School

Sidcott School

Sir Roger Manwood School

Skegness Grammar School

Slindon College

Southgate Technical College

St Andrew's School, Eastbourne

St Andrew's School, Pangbourne

St Andrew's School, Woking

St Antony's-Leweston School

St Augustine's College

St Bede's School, Eastbourne

St Bede's School, Wolseley Bridge

St Bees School

St Benedict's Convent

St Catherine's School

St Christopher School, Letchworth

St Christopher's School, Bernham on Sea

St Clare's Oxford

St Denis School

St Edmund's College, Ware

St Edmund's School, Canterbury

St Edmund's School, Hindhead

St Edwards School

St Felix School

St George's College

St George's School for Girls

St George's School, Ascot

St George's School, Windsor

St Helen's School

St John on the Hill

St John's School

St Joseph's College

St Lawrence College

St Leonards-Mayfield School

St Margaret's School

St Mary and St. Annes

St Mary's Convent, Shaftesbury

St Mary's Gate, Southbourne

St Mary's Hall School, Brighton

St Mary's Hall, Stoneyhurst

St Mary's School, Ascot

St Mary's School, Calne

St Mary's School, Cambridge

St Mary's Wantage

St Michael's

St Neot's School

St Paul's School

St Peter's School

St Stephens College

St Swithuns School

Stanbridge Earls School

Stoke College

Stonar School

Stonyhurst College

Stover School

Stowe School

Strathallan School

Streete Court School

Summer Fields School

Sunningdale School

Sutton Valence School

Swanbourne House School

Taunton School

Temple Grove School

Terrington Hall School

The Blue Coat School

The Mount School

The Nak Centre

The Old MaltHouse

The Red Maid's School

The School of St Clare

Tockington Manor School

Tonbridge School

Towers School

Truro School

Tudor Hall School

Twyford School

United College of the Atlantic

Upper Chine School

Uppingham School

Ursline Covent School

Vinehall School

Wadhurst College

Walthampton School

Walthamstow Hall School

Warminster School

Wellesley House

Wellingborough School

Wellington College

Wentworth Milton Mount

West Buckland School

West Heath School

Westbourne House School

Westminster School

Westonbrit School

Winchester College

Windlesham House School

Wispers School

Wolborough Hill School

Woldingham School

Woodcote House

Worth Abbey School

Wrekin College

Wychwood School

Wycliffe College

Wycombe Abbey School

Yardley Court

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