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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Taiwan (British Citizens)

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are currently resident in Taiwan; and if he will make a statement. [26991]

Mr. Hanley: There are estimated to be about 800 British citizens resident in Taiwan, mainly business men with families, English language teachers and missionaries.

Iran

Ms Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise the subject of human rights in Iran with his EU counterparts.[25904]

Mr. Hanley: We frequently raise and discuss the subject of human rights in Iran with our European Union partners. The EU co-sponsors resolutions critical of Iran at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations General Assembly. The most recent resolution was adopted by the UNCHR on 24 April 1996. The EU also raises specific cases of human rights abuses with the Iranian authorities. We will continue to work closely with our EU partners on this issue.

BBC Worldwide Television (Arabic)

Ms Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to ensure the continuation and expansion of the BBC world television service in Arabic. [25905]

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Mr. Hanley: BBC Arabic TV, a commercial service of BBC Worldwide Television, ceased operation on 22 April. Decisions about any future developments are a matter for BBC Worldwide Television.

Nuclear Material

Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what purpose the nuclear material referred to in Cm 3195 and Cm 3196 is to be put; and if he will make a statement. [26766]

Mr. David Davis: The end-uses of the nuclear material and technology, referred to in Cms 3195 and 3196, are respectively:

(a) the manufacture of nuclear fuel and/or associated research and development; and


(b) the recovery of a small amount of highly enriched uranium from medical radio-isotope production wastes.

Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the uranium oxide powder referred to in Cm 3195 is (a) 235 uranium oxide and (b) 238 uranium oxide. [26765]

Mr. Davis: The uranium oxide powder referred to in Cm 3195 will contain a maximum of 19.95 per cent. uranium 235, the remainder being uranium 238.

Gibraltar to Spain Crossing

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the average time taken by a motor car and occupants to cross the border from Gibraltar to Spain in the period 1 to 14 April in the years (a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) 1996; what representations he has made to the Spanish authorities on delays in the crossing; and what response he has received.[27071]

Mr. David Davis: The relevant figures are:

1 to 14 April 1994: frequent delays of 30 to 45 minutes, up to a maximum of 90 minutes.
1 to 14 April 1995: frequent delays of between one and two hours, up to a maximum of four hours.
1 to 14 April 1996: frequent delays of between one and one-and-a-half hours, up to a maximum of three hours.

We have repeatedly made representations to the Spanish Government about the delays at the Gibraltar frontier which remain unacceptable. They are totally disproportionate to the need to make customs and immigration checks.

Immigration

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when the explanatory statement explaining the reasons for the refusal of a visa for Mrs. Shazia Shaukat, Ref. IMM/D2009, was (a) completed at the post in Islamabad and (b) dispatched to the immigration appellate authorities in London; and if he will make a statement; [27098]

(2) when the application made to the post in Islamabad by Mr. Mohammed Wahid Sadiq, Ref. IMM/C7406, to join his wife in the United Kingdom will be decided; when Mr. Sadiq was

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interviewed; when the letter dated 9 February from Bradford law centre concerning this case was answered; and if he will make a statement. [27100]

Mr. Hanley: I have asked the high commissioner at Islamabad for details and will arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit as soon as possible.

Lebanon

Mr. David Young: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Israel to cease its attacks on non-combatants in Lebanon and its violation of Lebanese territory. [27263]

Mr. Hanley: We have made our concerns about the situation in Lebanon clear to the Israelis on a number of occasions. We have called for an immediate ceasefire, including in UN Security Council resolution 1052, which was co-sponsored by the UK.

Organic Fertilisers (BSE Risk)

Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the risks from bovine spongiform encephalopathy-related diseases to users of organic fertilisers with special reference to (a) blood, fish and bone, (b) bonemeal and (c) dried blood. [23844]

Mrs. Browning: I have been asked to reply.

There is no scientific evidence available to suggest that the use of organic fertilisers containing blood, fish, bone, bonemeal and dried blood pose a human health risk.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Private Fiance Initiative

Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the revenue spending estimated by his Department in connection with the private finance initiative for (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97 and (c) 1997-98.[26631]

Mr. John M. Taylor: The revenue spending estimated by my Department in connection with the private finance initiative is as follows:

1995-96: £0 million
1996-97: £0.2 million
1997-98: £3.6 million.

Power Stations

Mr. Harvey: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will detail the provisions for ensuring proper maintenance of (a) coal-fired, (b) oil-fired and (c) gas-fired power stations established under the Electricity Act 1989; and if he will make a statement.[26798]

Mr. Page: Power stations must comply with emission standards laid down by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and also with the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 enforced by the Health and Safety Executive. Provided these requirements are met,

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maintenance standards are a commercial matter for the operators. However, the pricing mechanism by which generators receive payment from the electricity pool includes an element related to the availability of generating capacity, and this gives generators a market incentive to ensure that their stations are sufficiently well maintained to be available.

Winfrith Reactor

Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what advice he has received from the nuclear installations inspectorate on the pre-commencement safety report for the divestment of the A59 active handling team; and if NII approval of the safety case for the divestment is required. [27003]

Mr. Page: Responsibility for safety of United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority operations is a matter for UKAEA. I would not normally expect to receive advice from the NII on day-to-day safety matters and it has not raised any concerns with me on this case. The safety implications of the arrangement are being considered by UKAEA, the licensed operator, and the NII in accordance with normal licensing procedures.

Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the recorded safety incidents and the related costs which occurred during the execution of the contract by Wastechem to decontaminate the pond furniture at the Winfrith steam-generating heavy water reactor. [27037]

Mr. Page: There were no ministerially reportable incidents during the conduct of this contract. Detailed questions about safety issues and costs are an operational matter for UKAEA. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) which companies were shortlisted to bid for the work associated with the A59 active handling building at Winfrith; [27001]

(2) what sums were paid to Wastechem to decontaminate the pond furniture at the Winfrith steam-generating heavy water reactor; [27041]

(3) what was (a) the contracted time agreed with Wastechem and (b) the actual time taken to decontaminate the pond furniture at the Winfrith steam-generating heavy water reactor; [27036]

(4) what percentage of the pond furniture at the Winfrith steam-generating heavy water reactor was decontaminated by Wastechem to the level specified in the contract; and what was the cost of the storage and disposal of the remainder; [27038]

(5) for what reasons (a) AEA Technology was not permitted to bid and (b) the British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. bid was rejected for the work associated with the A59 active handling building at Winfrith; [27002]

(6) what time scale was given in the bid by Wastechem for the work specified in the invitation to tender for the A59 active handling divestment at Winfrith; what representations he has received from United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority that the time scale be extended; and what estimate he has made of the cost of that extension; [27004]

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(7) what estimate he has made of the savings from placing the contract for the A59 active handling divestment contract with Wastechem over undertaking the work on an in-house basis; [27005]

(8) what were the contract prices submitted by (a) Wastechem and (b) AEA Technology to decontaminate the pond furniture at the Winfrith steam-generating heavy water reactor; [27040]

(9) what savings were achieved by awarding the contract to decontaminate the pond furniture at the Winfrith steam-generating heavy water reactor to Wastechem; [27035]

(10) if he will make a statement on the claim made by Wastechem against the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in connection with the decontamination of the pond furniture at the Winfrith steam-generating heavy water reactor and the amount of the settlement reached.[27039]

Mr. Page: These are operational matters for UKAEA. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

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