| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of allegations that the United Kingdom breached its obligations in regard to article II of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in trade with Iraq since 1979. [17699]
Mr. David Davis: Article II of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty confers obligations on non-nuclear weapon states party to the treaty not to obtain or manufacture nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, or seek or receive any assistance in their manufacture. The United Kingdom is a nuclear-weapon state and the obligations under article II of the treaty are therefore not directly relevant.
Chechnya
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Chechnya; and what plans he has to visit the country. [17526]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: We do not maintain relations with Chechnya, which is recognised internationally as part of the Russian Federation. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Chechnya.
Former Yugoslavia (Refugees)
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the safety of refugees in the United Kingdom returning to the states of the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement. [17384]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: We closely monitor the security situation in the former Yugoslavia.
We share the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' view that returns should take place in conditions of safety. As well as making our own assessments, we are in close touch with the UNHCR who has undertaken to provide information on the security, political, economic and social situation prevailing in the area to which return is planned.
East Timor
Mr. Fatchett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to raise the issue of human rights and self-determination for East Timor during the forthcoming Europe-Asia summit in Bangkok; and if he will make a statement. [17764]
28 Feb 1996 : Column: 559
Mr. Hanley:
We regularly raise our concerns about East Timor and human rights with Indonesian Ministers. We are still waiting for confirmation of whether time will permit an opportunity for bilateral discussion with Indonesia during the Asia-Europe meeting in Bangkok.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration was given to prosecuting Hussein Kamel as a war criminal. [17873]
Mr. Hanley:
None. There is no war crimes tribunal at the United Nations for Iraqi war criminals.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the reasons for Hussein Kamel's return to Iraq. [17875]
Mr. Hanley:
We do not know why Hussein Kamel decided to return to Iraq. Reports that he was killed on 23 February show that his decision was ill-conceived and that he fatally underestimated the brutality of Saddam Hussein.
Miss Emma Nicholson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had from Mr. Omar al Hassan; and if he will make a statement. [17854]
Mr. Hanley:
Officials from this Department have had occasional contact with Dr. al Hassan, in his capacity as director of the Gulf Centre for Strategic Studies.
Rail Privatisation
Ms Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money will be paid by the British Railways Board, subsidiaries of the British Railways Board, and other Government-owned railway companies in subscriptions to the Association of Train Operating Companies in (a) the current financial year and (b) the next financial year. [16982]
Mr. Watts: Subscriptions paid to the Association of Train Operating Companies will amount to £1.129 million this financial year and £1.220 million next financial year.
Departmental Officials (Interests)
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the officials in his Department who have declared a current interest; what requirements are placed on officials to declare relevant interests; in what form records of such declarations are kept; and if he will establish a central register of officials' interests. [16879]
Mr. Norris:
In accordance with service-wide rules, the Department's staff handbook requires staff to declare to line managers any business or financial interests which they or immediate members of their families hold, which they would be able to further as a result of their official position. Staff must then follow any departmental instructions regarding the retention, disposal, or
28 Feb 1996 : Column: 560
management of such interests. However, it is not departmental policy to disclose information given in confidence by staff.
Copies of written declarations and subsequent advice from line managers are retained on the individuals' personal files. This arrangement works satisfactorily but the need for a central register will be kept under review.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to paragraph K8.1 of the Scott report relating to ministerial accountability, what additional measures he proposes to ensure his Department's compliance with paragraph 27 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". [17319]
Sir George Young:
I refer the hon. Member to the speech made by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, on 26 February, Official Report, columns 589-604.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (1) action he intends to take to ensure that the manufacturers of the Ford Fiesta cars registered G or H recall all the cars with defective seat belt mechanisms; and if he will make a statement; [17398]
(3) what representations he has received concerning defects on seat belts on Ford Fiesta carts registered G or H; [17401]
(4) what investigations the Vehicle Certification Agency has carried out to ensure that the seatbelts of Ford Fiesta cars registered G and H function efficiently and correctly; [17396]
(5) what proposals he is considering to include an examination of the inertia reel of seat belts in the Ministry of Transport test. [17393]
Mr. Norris:
The Department's Vehicle Inspectorate has received a small number of reports of seat belts failing to work correctly in Ford Fiesta cars. All have come from the Driving Standards Agency and relate to cars which have been used on driving tests. This is currently being investigated in conjunction with the vehicle manufacturer. It would be premature to decide on a course of action until the Vehicle Inspectorate's investigations are complete.
I hope that the matter will be resolved quickly.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of injuries to driving examiners have resulted from defects in seat belts on the car on which the test is taking palace for each year since 1988; if he will name the make, model and year of manufacture; and what measures he proposes to take to protect such examiners. [17392]
Mr. Norris:
The circumstances surrounding injuries to examiners on test were not recorded in this sort of detail in the past. The Driving Standards Agency is aware of nine cases of injuries to driving examiners on test which
28 Feb 1996 : Column: 561
were allegedly attributable to defects with seat belts in 1994, and seven during 1995. The agency's new accident reporting system, introduced this month, will provide for more detailed recording and analysis.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to take to protect driving examiners conducting driving tests in G or H registered Ford Fiesta cars. [17398]
Mr. Norris:
In addition to instructions to examiners about avoiding injuries on driving tests, and the new accident reporting system being implemented this month, the Driving Standards Agency will be reporting to the Vehicle Inspectorate information which indicates a potential fault in a vehicle component.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of injuries to driving examiners have resulted from defects on seat belts on ford Fiesta cars registered G or H. [17399]
Mr. Norris:
The Driving Standards Agency's records show that, since mid-1994, there have been six cases which were attributed to alleged defects in seat belts on those vehicles.
Mr. Ron Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the emergency towing study team report. [17805]
Mr. Norris:
The report will be published shortly and a copy will be placed in the Library.
(2) what action he intends to take concerning allegations of defective seat belts on Ford Fiesta cars registered G or H; [17400]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |