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Skye Bridge

Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to whom the bridge master on the Skye bridge is accountable for decisions about whether or not to close the bridge in adverse weather conditions. [7239]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: I have been asked to reply.

The bridge master is an employee of a private company--Skye Bridge Ltd.--which operates the tolled crossing and is responsible for maintenance and day-to-day operation of the bridge. By virtue of section 43(4) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, the company has powers to close the bridge temporarily in circumstances which include adverse weather. The concession agreement between the company and the Secretary of State requires that the exercise by the company of these powers will be undertaken only after consultation with the police.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Internet

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what web site his Department maintains on the Internet; what information is provided there; how often it is updated; what is the address; and if he or his Department answers questions and supplies additional information through the Internet. [7566]

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Sir Nicholas Bonsor: "FCO Online", the world wide web service of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic wing, was launched on 1 May 1995 and is updated daily. A wide range of information material is published on the site, including speeches, statements, press releases, consular and travel advice, foreign policy briefing papers and ministerial engagements. Latest additions include sound and video files.

British Information Services New York also has its own web site providing material of regional interest in North America.

The Overseas Development Administration does not maintain its own web site--instead it has a home page on the "OneWorld Online" web server. Information provided on or via this page includes ODA press releases, the bi-monthly newspaper British Overseas Development and the annual review. The information is not made available on the Internet prior to normal publication procedures.

The addresses are as follows:


Neither wing at present answers questions or supplies additional information through the Internet.

Council of Europe (Russian Membership)

Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Russian application to join the Council of Europe. [7440]

Mr. David Davis: The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly is due to make a recommendation later this month on the Russian application to join the Council of Europe. We welcome the prospect of Russia's accession.

Commonwealth of Independent States

(Nuclear Installations)

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the CIS countries regarding the safety of their nuclear power installations. [7718]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor: Since the 1992 G7 Munich summit, we have been active in promoting improved levels of nuclear safety throughout the former Soviet Union and in central and eastern Europe. Together with our G7 and EU partners, we take full opportunity of meetings with Ministers and officials from these countries to encourage nuclear safety improvements. The closure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant by the year 2000 was one of the issues which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed with President Kuchma during his recent visit to London. The recently agreed memorandum of understanding between the G7 and Ukraine on the closure of Chernobyl is an example of the successful

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international efforts in this area. Preparations are now under way for the G8 nuclear safety summit in Moscow in April. This will focus on a range of nuclear safety and security issues.

NATO Secretary General

Mr. David Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the appointment of the new Secretary General of NATO. [6350]

Mr. David Davis: We very much welcome the appointment of Javier Solana as the new Secretary General of NATO. We look forward to working closely with him.

Entry Clearance

Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to raise the fees for entry clearance abroad; to what level the fees for entry clearance for (a) single entry visit, (b) multiple entry visit, (c) business or work, (d) student and (e) settlement will be raised; and which countries have arrangements with the United Kingdom for free visas. [7418]

Mr. Hanley: The entry clearance application fee for settlement is due to rise on 1 April 1996. The new fee will be announced nearer the time. No decisions have been taken on changes to other fees.

The United Kingdom waives visa fees for certain categories of applicant in accordance with international custom or law, or on policy grounds.

The United Kingdom waives visa fees for nationals of certain countries of the former Soviet Union under the terms of the 1964 UK/USSR agreement abolishing consular fees on visas. These are Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgystan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. The agreement will terminate in respect of nationals of Russia on 27 January 1996. The agreement is no longer in effect in respect of nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Mr. Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what are the present waiting times to first interview for all categories of applicant (a) in each country and at each post in the Indian subcontinent, (b) Bangkok, (c) Manila, (d) Lagos, (e) Accra, (f) Kingston, (g) Addis Ababa and (h) Sana'a; [7659]

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Mr. Hanley: In view of the amount of detail needed to answer these questions, I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Government Hospitality Fund (Wine)

Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the function of the Government hospitality fund advisory committee for the purchase of wine; if he will name the current members and chairman; what was (i) the sponsoring Department's expenditure in the last year for which information is available and (ii) the remuneration or expenses paid to the chairman and members; and if he will make a statement. [7613]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The function of the Government hospitality fund advisory committee for the purchase of wine is to

"Advise the Minister in Charge of the Government Hospitality Fund on the maintenance of an appropriate standard of wine for use at Official Government functions".

The current members and chairman of the committee are as named in the answer given by the then Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 24 October 1994, Official Report, column 440:


The sponsoring Department's Government hospitality fund total expenditure in the financial year 1994-95 was £1,437,191.

The remuneration or expenses paid to the chairman and members of the committee is nil.

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