| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. Horam: Following is a list of the cardiovascular diseases researched by the Medical Research Council:
Arrhythmia
Atherosclerosis
Atheroma
Cardiomyopathy
Heart failure
Hypercholesterolaemia
Hyperlipidaemia
Hypertension
Ischaemia
Thrombosis
Owing to the significant overlap of funding covering these diseases, and to the interrelation between the above categories, it is impossible to provide specific figures covering each of the diseases. However, in the last financial year for which figures are available, 1993 94, the MRC spent over £6 million directly on cardiovascular research, and over £16 million on research which may have some relevance to the condition.
Executive Agencies
Ms Harman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for this year and each of the past five years, how many employees in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which his Department is responsible who have been employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks; or (b) less than 51 weeks duration are re-employed in the same or similar position at a later date.
Mr. Horam [pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1995 c. 620 21]: The figure for the number of people employed
Column 1201
by the COI on contracts of less than 51 weeks is 17--3.4 per cent.--and not zero as originally stated.Green Policy
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will name the green Minister for his Department and list (a) the green initiatives taken by that Minister in respect of the Department's functions, (b) the representations made by the Minister in respect of functions carried out by other Departments and (c) the input made by the Minister into consultations on the Environment Bill. [18653]
Mr. Horam: I am the green Minister for the Cabinet Office, including the Office of Public Service and Science, its executive agencies, and HMSO and the Central Office of Information. My Department has an environmental strategy and has updated its supporting action plan for 1995; my Department's non-departmental public bodies have also been invited to support energy savings policies. Details of specific actions taken in support of the Department's strategy are given in the Government expenditure plans for the Cabinet Office, Cm 2820, published on 1 March 1995. My Department is involved in discussions on a number of other environmental issues.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Test Ban Treaty
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's position in negotiations for a comprehensive test ban treaty in relation to nuclear tests carried out for safety and reliability purposes. [18112]
Mr. David Davis: We are committed to negotiating a comprehensive test ban treaty with an effective verification system and which commands universal adherence. We are studying how best to meet the continuing need to assure the safety and reliability of our deterrent.
Inhumane Weapons Convention
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent proposals he has received from other states with regard to the review conference of the inhumane weapons convention. [18114]
Mr. David Davis: There is a wide measure of agreement among our NATO allies, EU partners and others on proposals for strengthening protocol II of the convention concerning anti-personnel landmines. These include the extension of the scope of the protocol to non-international armed conflict; new provisions on self-destructing mechanisms, detectable mines and the marking and mapping of minefields, as well as the protection of humanitarian workers in mined areas; and the inclusion of restrictions on transfers in the protocol.
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those states that have ratified the 1981 inhumane weapons convention. [18113]
Mr. David Davis: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs.
Column 1202
Clwyd) on 27 March, Official Report , column 442. The United States of America has now also ratified the convention.Royal Visits (Costs)
Mr. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the costs for the last two years and what are the estimated costs for the current year and the next two years of (a) the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps and (b) royal overseas visits at the request of Government Departments. [18051]
Mr. Baldry: The costs borne by my Department are:
(a) Marshall of the Diplomatic Corps
1992 93: £67,552
1993 94: £67,806
1994 95: £63,101 Estimate
1995 96: £68,848 Estimate
1996 97: £71,742 Estimate
(b) Royal visits overseas at the request of Government Departments
1992 93: £455,695
1993 94: £491,845
1994 95: £560,000 Estimate
1995 96: £477,000 Estimate
1996 97: £489,000 Estimate
Libya
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the King of Morocco on Libya sanctions. [18092]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs nor I have had recent discussions about Libya with the King of Morocco.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with President Nelson Mandela and other South African leaders about a rapprochement between Libya and the west. [18091]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had discussions with a number of South African leaders during Her Majesty the Queen's recent state visit to South Africa. The South African Government share our concern that Libya should comply with the United Nations Security Council resolutions without further delay.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with President Mitterand the implications of the agreement for large-scale oil exploration rights between the Government of Libya and the French Company Totale for the imposition of United Nations sanctions against Libya. [18199]
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report , column 9 , if he will enter into discussions with Djibouti and Morocco on their abstention over sanctions against Libya. [18201]
Column 1203
Lockerbie
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report , column 8 , following the emergence of new information about the Lockerbie crime, if he will pursue the Lockerbie investigation further with the Government of Finland. [18205]
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report , column 9 , if he will specify what the unwarranted criticisms were to which he referred, with regard to the German authorities and the Scottish police in relation to Lockerbie. [18203]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: It was reported in the press and media, wrongly, that the German authorities had released Abdul Fatah Ghadanfar before the Scottish police were given an opportunity to interview him and that the Scottish police had not made any efforts to interview him, or his associate Haj Hafez Dalkamouni, in connection with the Lockerbie bombing.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report , column 9 , if the concerns of Her Majesty's Government about Abdul Ghadanfar were known to the German police before his release from arrest. [18191]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave the hon. Member on 6 March.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report , column 6 , regarding the possible involvement of officials of countries other than Libya in the Lockerbie bombing, if he will name the countries, the possible involvement of whose nationals have been very closely investigated. [18193]
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report , column 6 , regarding the possible involvement of officials of countries other than Libya in the Lockerbie bombing if he will make available all available evidence which supports charges to the Government of Germany. [18195]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The United Nations Security Council has endorsed our demand that Libya make the two accused available for trial in Scotland or the United States. It would not be appropriate to disclose the contents of confidential communications with the prosecuting or judicial authorities of other countries.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report, column 5 , if he will specify what were the differences in detail to which he referred, between the story in relation to which Air Malta brought the action and those contained in the warrants for the arrest of the two accused Libyans. [18197]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave the hon. Member on 6 March.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has conveyed to the German authorities details of the suitcase of white powder, handled by Mr. Wilson, farmer of Tundergarth Farm near Lockerbie in December 1988, about which
Column 1204
information was conveyed to him in a letter of 9 February from the Rev. John Mosey. [18183]Mr. Douglas Hogg: No significant quantities of drugs were recovered in the course of the Lockerbie investigation, although some small "user" amounts of cannabis were found. Allegations that a quantity of white powder drugs were found in a suitcase recovered at Tundergarth Mains farm were investigated some years ago in the early stages of the investigation. There was no substance to the allegations and nothing to be conveyed to the German authorities.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report, column 6 , what action he has taken to offer Volke Rath, state prosecutor at Frankfurt, additional evidence against two accused Libyans, to enable him to bring proceedings in Germany. [18184]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The United Nations Security Council has endorsed our demand that Libya make the two accused available for trial in Scotland or the United States. It would not be appropriate to disclose the contents of confidential communications with the prosecuting or judicial authorities of other countries.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report, column 7, whether the Scottish police asked or suggested to the Bundeskriminalamt or Verfassungschutz that they could directly question Mr. Ghadanfar and Mr. Dalkamouni. [18185]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave the hon. Member on 6 March.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report, column 9 , if he will enter into discussions with Egypt and Sudan about Lockerbie and their opposition to sanctions against Libya. [18202]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We have regular contacts with the Governments of both countries on a wide range of issues.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report, column 6, on the consideration of evidence of the involvement of officials of countries other than Libya in the Lockerbie bombing, what new information has been considered since 6 March. [18192]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 6 March.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet Esmat Abdul Meguid and the Arab League on the issue of Libya's position in relation to Lockerbie in the next three months. [18194]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I hope to meet Dr. Meguid in London today.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report , column 6 , when he estimates that the issue of the United States decision that the Montreal convention, requiring attempts at conciliation and arbitration, should not be applied in relation to Pan Am 103 and Lockerbie will be heard before the International Court of Justice; and if he will outline the position of Her Majesty's Government. [18196]
Column 1205
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The timing of any hearing is a matter for the International Court of Justice. The United Kingdom does not accept that Libya enjoys rights under the Montreal convention in relation to the sabotage of Pan Am 103.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation have been made to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by Professor Dr. John Buontempo, former Maltese ambassador to Arab countries, in connection with the Lockerbie bombing. [18198]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Professor Buontempo has explained to Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials his personal view that the trial of the two Libyans accused of the Lockerbie bombing should be held in Malta.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's ambassador in Cairo last had discussions with Dr. Meguid, Secretary General of the Arab League, on Lockerbie; and what was the result. [18200]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Her Majesty's ambassador at Cairo has had a number of discussions on Lockerbie with the Secretary General of the Arab League. Dr. Meguid shares our concern that the issue should be resolved urgently, in accordance with the Security Council resolutions.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report , column 8 , if he will support the proposal by the hon. Member for Eastwood, (Mr. Stewart) to allow the Scottish courts to operate outside Scotland. [18204]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: I have been asked to reply. There is no need for Scottish courts to operate outside Scotland. There are arrangements which allow the evidence of witnesses who are abroad to be taken before a local judge or relayed by direct television link to the courts in Scotland. We have no reason to believe that the Libyans will surrender the two accused for trial before a Scottish court sitting aboard. The Scottish lawyer representing the two accused has most recently suggested trial by a panel of judges headed by a Scottish judge. This is simply the latest in a long line of inappropriate and often contradictory proposals, none of which satisfies the requirement of the Security Council that the accused be produced for trial in Scotland or the United States.
Green Policy
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name the green Minister for his Department and list (a) the green initiatives taken by that Minister in respect of the Department's functions, (b) the representations made by the Minister in respect of functions carried out by other Departments and (c) the input made by the Minister into consultations on the Environment Bill. [18654]
Mr. Baldry: I am the FCO green Minister for both the diplomatic and development wings.
I have set up an environmental management committee to produce a departmental action plan on green issues affecting the domestic arrangements of the FCO.
Through officials, I have been concerned with reaching an acceptable procedure with the Department of Trade
Column 1206
and Industry and Department of Environment for trying to ensure that timber and timber products are purchased from sustainably managed sources.I have also, through officials, been actively involved in the consultation process with other Government Departments about the Environment Bill.
Disabled People (Access)
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the measures taken, facilities offered and adjustments made in his Department and agencies for which he is responsible to facilitate access for disabled people; what plans he has to improve access; and if he will make a statement. [18598]
Mr. Goodlad: This Department ensures that all new refurbishment projects build in access and facilities for disabled people, apart from areas which are protected on heritage grounds. Disabled staff and visitors have access to all floors of the FCO's main building. There is a wheelchair access to the FCO's only public office in London. Car parking for disabled people is also available. When planning new building work overseas, the FCO complies with UK and EU building regulations which require disabled access to non-domestic buildings. Where the local standard is higher, the FCO meets local requirements.
The Overseas Development Administration's sites in London and East Kilbride provide disabled access to the buildings, including lifts to all floors. The ODA is considering the installations of stairlifts to two areas of the London office currently inaccessible to wheelchair users.
The Natural Resources Institute's accommodation was checked and approved by the Department of Employment's disablement advisory service in the late 1980s.
Nigeria (Visits)
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the exact dates of ministerial visits to Nigeria since June 1993, listing the Ministers and the reason for the visit in each case. [17779]
Mr. Baldry: There has been no ministerial visit to Nigeria since my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey last visited in January 1993.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the exact dates of visits by officials in his Department to Nigeria since June 1993 and the reason for the visit in each case. [17783]
Mr. Baldry: Details of such visits are not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
Burundi
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will makea statement on the current security situation inBurundi. [17825]
Mr. Baldry: The security situation in Burundi remains volatile. We are deeply concerned about developments and will continue to monitor events closely. We are working with the international community--and with the Secretary General's special representative, Mr. Ould
Column 1207
Abdallah, in particular--to support the moderates from all sides in the Government who have agreed to work towards restoring public confidence and consolidate national reconciliation and democracy.Ethiopia
Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made to whether the Government in Ethiopia is breaching human rights; and if he will make a statement. [15332]
Mr. Baldry: We are concerned about the human rights situation in Ethiopia and take every opportunity to stress to the transitional Government the importance of making real progress in this area.
| Next Section
| Home Page |