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International Labour Conference
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the delegation representing the United Kingdom at the forthcoming international labour conference. [23711]
Miss Widdecombe: The UK will, as in previous years be sending a tripartite delegation. Members of the delegation are as follows: INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE
(82nd Session, Geneva, 6 to 23 June 1995)
MEMBERS OF UK DELEGATION
MINISTER ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE
Miss Ann WIDDECOMBE, MP
Minister of State for Employment
She will be accompanied by her Private Secretary, Mr. Simon WOOD, and Mr. Clive TUCKER, Head of International Division, Employment Department.
GOVERNMENT DELEGATES
Mr. Mark WESTON, Head of International Relations Branch, Employment Department.
Ms Shan MORGAN, Grade 7, Employment Department
Advisers and Substitute Delegates
Mr. Edward G. M. CHAPLIN OBE, Deputy Permanent Representative, United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva
Mr. Keith ANDREWS, Senior Executive Officer, Employment Department
Advisers
Mr. Nigel WILLIAMS CMG, Permanent Representative, United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva
Mr. Geoff GREEN, HM Principal Inspector of Mines, Health and Safety Executive
Mr. Alistair KENNARD, Grade 7, Employment Department
Mr. Philip SCOTT, Field Operations Division, Health and Safety Executive
Mr. Tim SIMMONS, First Secretary, United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva
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Miss Sarah BOARDMAN, Third Secretary, United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in GenevaMr. Herbert LYSK, Head of Industrial Relations Division, Department of Economic Development (Northern Ireland)
Mr. Johnathan CLAGUE, Higher Executive Officer, Department of Industry, Isle of Man
Mr. Stephen IP, Commissioner for Labour, Labour Department Hong Kong
Ms Angella BLAGGROVE, Executive Officer, Employment Department
EMPLOYERS' DELEGATE
Miss Anne MACKIE OBE, CBI Consultant on International Employment Affairs; Member, Governing Body of the International Labour Office
Adviser and Substitute Delegate
Miss Deborah A. FRANCE, Head, International Social Affairs, Confederation of British Industry
Advisers
Mr. Alan WILD, Employee Relations Director, Guinness Brewing Worldwide
Mr. Rod STACE, Mining Engineer, Operations Department, British Coal Corporation
Mr. David EVANS, Confederation of British Industry
Ms Petunia OGUNLEYE, Employee Relations Adviser, Shell UK Exploration and Production
Mr. Sai-chu HO, Employers' Representative, Labour Advisory Board, Hong Kong
WORKERS' DELEGATE
Mr. Bill BRETT, Vice-President, Governing Body of the International Labour Office, General Secretary of the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists
Adviser and Substitute Delegate
Mr. Simon STEYNE, International Officer, International Department, Trades Union Congress
Advisers
Mr. Chris GIFFORD, Mine Health and Safety Consultant, National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers/NUM Mr. William MORGAN, Member of the Executive Council of Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union; Member of the TUC General Council
Mr. Gus BOATENG, Unit Representative and Unit Equal Opportunities Representative, Communication Workers' Union; Member of the TUC General Council
Ms Ina LOVE, Member of the National Executive Committee of UNISON; Member of the TUC General Council
Mr. Ken THOMAS, Former General Secretary to the Civil and Public Services Association; Former Member of the TUC General Council
Mr. Ming CHU, Employees' Representative, Labour Advisory Board, Hong Kong
Jobcentres
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions his Department gives to jobcentres on the circumstances in which they can advertise job vacancies that exist at employment agencies. [23682]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
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Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 15 May 1995:The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about what instructions people in Jobcentres follow when handling vacancies on behalf of employment agencies.
You may be aware of the long standing agreement we have with the Federation of Recruitment and Employment Services (FRES). This enables my Jobcentres to accept individual vacancies for display from an employment agency or business recruiting people to be sub-contracted to companies.
Following a review last year of our vacancy handling policy with agencies, we reached a new agreement with FRES on co-operation between Jobcentres and private employment agencies. Under the new arrangements, agencies may use Jobcentres to advertise vacancies which they have been contracted to fill.
We are keen to introduce jobseekers to all the options available to help them in their search for work and we believe that the new arrangements give unemployed people access to wider range of opportunities.
Further information is included in our publication, Helping People into Jobs, The Guide to Job Broking, copies of which are available in the Library.
I hope this is helpful.
Fourth World Conference on Women
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what public consultations are planned with (a) women's bodies and (b) other interested representative bodies prior to deciding United Kingdom policy in regard to the UN's fourth world conference on women in Beijing. [23699]
Miss Widdecombe: Throughout the preparatory process for the fourth UN world conference on women, the Government have been in continuous dialogue with women's non-governmental organisations and other interested groups. We consulted widely on the UK national report for the world conference which was released last September, and have invited comments on the draft global platform for action. Members of the delegation to the recent preparatory meeting of the commission on the status of women are meeting NGOs this week to discuss the outcome of that meeting.
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which non -governmental organisations have been in contact with the Government in respect of the UN's fourth world conference on women in Beijing this year. [23696]
Miss Widdecombe: A wide range of non-governmental organisations have contacted the Government regarding the fourth UN world conference on women.
European Structural Funds
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimate of the amount that will have been spent on 1994 95 under objective 3 of the European structural funds; what amount has been applied for in 1995 96; and on what date the application was made. [24155]
Miss Widdecombe: The European Commission works on a calendar year cycle for its financial commitments. In 1994, 478 mecu, about £368 million, has been committed to European social fund objective 3 projects in Great Britain. The actual expenditure will not be known until later this year, when our final claims for 1994 are submitted.
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In 1995, 497 mecu is available. This is drawn down from the Commission in a series of tranches. The first 50 per cent., 248.5 mecu, was requested on 21 April 1995.FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's response to the report of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy on the conference on the extension of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, adopted by the European Parliament on 5 April. [22350]
Mr. David Davis [holding answer 4 May 1995]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will make a statement about the nuclear non-proliferation treaty after the review and extension conference has taken place.
Mr. Nick Leeson
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits have been made to Mr. Nick Leeson in Frankfurt by United Kingdom consular staff. [23709]
Mr. David Davis: Our vice-consul saw Mr. Leeson immediately after he was stopped at Frankfurt airport on
2 March. The vice-consul visited him in Hoechst prison, Frankfurt, on 10 March. He will be visited again within the next three weeks. Mr. Leeson is free to contact our consulate at any time.
Fourth World Conference on Women
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances have been obtained from the Chinese Government in respect of participation by non-governmental organisations in the UN's fourth world conference on women in Beijing this year. [23695]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: In accordance with standard UN practice, non- governmental organisations will be admitted as observers at the fourth world conference on women in Peking. Under the terms of the host country agreement, China has agreed to issue visas to all non-governmental organisations properly accredited by the United Nations.
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guarantees the United Kingdom has obtained from China to the effect that all British-based journalists seeking to cover the UN fourth world conference on Women in Beijing will be granted accreditation. [23698]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Press accreditation for the fourth world conference on women will be arranged by the United Nations. The Chinese have confirmed that they will issue visas to all those so accredited.
Mr. Macshane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the UN fourth world conference on women in Beijing. [23700]
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Mr. Douglas Hogg: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment on 16 March, Official Report, column 648.
Argentine Postage Stamps
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration Her Majesty's Government have given to making representations to the Universal Postal Union in respect of postage stamps issued by the Argentine postal authorities bearing the words "Islas Malvinas"; and if he will make a statement. [23714]
Mr. David Davis: We have not made representations to the Universal Postal Union about the stamps in question. However, we have protested to the Argentine Government about the issue, reiterating our sovereignty over the Falklands Islands, and informing the Argentines that they have no right to issue such stamps.
British Diplomatic Staff
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries where the British ambassador, high commissioner or charge is female; and in how many countries there is British diplomatic presence. [23785]
Mr. Goodlad: The countries where the head of post is female are: Irish Republic
Lebanon
Costa Rica
Ivory Coast
Uzbekistan
Zaire
Diplomatic or consular relations are maintained with 183 countries, although in some cases the accredited diplomatic staff reside in a third country.
Cannes European Council
Mr. Richard Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government expect to publish their specific proposals for reform of the European Community for intergovernmental conference; and if they will be in the form of a White Paper. [23719]
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Mr. David Davis: We do not expect the Cannes European Council to consider proposals for the IGC, which will not meet until next year. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have set out the Government's approach to the IGC on a number of occasions, including in the Opposition day debated on Europe on 1 March, Official Report , columns 1060--74 and 1138 45.
Indonesia
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates he approved the use by the Indonesian Government of British-supplied defence equipment against (a) the GAM: Aceh, (b) the OPM: West Papua/Irian Jaya; and (c) FRETLIN: East Timor. [23865]
Mr. Goodlad: We would not approve the export of defence equipment likely to be used for internal repression in Indonesia or East Timor.
Mrs. Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates he protested to the Government of Indonesia about the use of British-supplied defence equipment against (a) the GAM: Aceh, (b) the OPM: West Papua/Irian Jaya and (c) FRETLIN: East Timor. [23866]
Mr. Goodlad: We have no evidence that British-supplied defence equipment has been so used.
Public Bodies
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which non-departmental public bodies within the responsibility of his Department are subject to scrutiny by (a) ombudsmen, (b) the National Audit Office, (c) the Audit Commission and (d) other monitoring officers; which are covered by citizens charters; in which performance indicators apply; and in which members are liable to surcharge. [23967]
Mr. Goodlad: For executive non-departmental public bodies I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 25 April to the hon. Member for Cannock and Burntwood(Dr. Wright), Official Report , column 428 , on such bodies sponsored by the FCO (Diplomatic Wing and Overseas Development Administration). Only members of the boards of the British Council and the Britain-Russia Centre are liable to surcharge. For advisory non- departmental public bodies the information requested is shown in the following table.
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Subject to:
|Investigation by |Scutiny by |Other |Members
|(a) |(b) |(c) |(d)<1>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diplomatic Service Appeals Board |No |No |No |No |No |No |No
Government Hospitality Fund
Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine |No |No |No |No |No |No |No
Wilton Park Academic Council |Yes |Yes |No |No |Yes |Yes |No
Wilton Park International Advisory Council |Yes |Yes |No |No |Yes |Yes |No
Advisory Committee on Overseas Economic and Social Research |No |No |No |No |No |No |No
Indian Family Pension Funds Body of Commissioners |No |No |No |No |No |No |No
Overseas Service Pensions Scheme Advisory Board |No |No |No |No |No |No |No
Know-How Fund Advisory Board |No |No |No |No |No |No |No
<1> All non-departmental public bodies are subject to regular review by the sponsoring FCO department.
Gibralter
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government intend to sign and ratify the United Nations international convention against the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries. [24293]
Mr. Douglas Hogg: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 27 March, Official Report, column 443.
Gibraltar
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions Gibraltar's status (a) within the European Union and (b) with Spain has been raised by him at his meetings with the Foreign Minister of Spain over the past two years. [24473]
Mr. David Davis: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs meets the Spanish Foreign Minister regularly. Detailed discussions on Gibraltar are held under the auspices of the Brussels process. The last such meeting was on 20 December 1994 in London.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions British citizens using the border between Gibraltar and Spain have been subject to delays initiated by the Spanish authorities during the past 14 days; and if he will make a statement. [24474]
Mr. David Davis: British citizens have been subject to some delays on each of the past 14 days. As we have repeatedly made clear, we consider the delays caused by the Spanish controls at the Spain-Gibraltar frontier excessive and unjustified. We have protested vigorously to the Spanish authorities.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions Gibraltar's status within the European Union has been raised formally in any of the Council of Ministers other than the Heads of Governments Council, over the past two years; and if he will make a statement. [24472]
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