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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Entry Clearance Officers (Manila)

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many complaints his Department has received in each of the last six calendar years in respect of the treatment of visa applications and sponsors by entry clearance officers at the British embassy in Manila; and what proportion of all visa applications in each year these complaints represent. [27373]

Mr. Hanley: This information is not readily available and cannot be compiled except at disproportionate cost.

2 May 1996 : Column: 586

Land Mines

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress made to ban the manufacture, export and use of anti-personnel land mines at the recent negotiations at the first review conference for the 1980 inhumane weapons convention in Geneva. [27140]

Mr. David Davis: The UN weaponry convention review conference is currently taking place in Geneva and is expected to be concluded on 3 May. We hope that significant new prohibitions and restrictions will be placed on the use and transfer of anti-personnel land mines taking us significantly closer to the goal of a total international ban on these weapons. The production of mines is not covered by the convention.

UN Register for Conventional Arms

Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom returned its 1995 submission to the UN register for conventional arms; and if he will place a copy of the submission in the Library. [27646]

Mr. David Davis: We submitted our return to the UN register covering calendar year 1995 to the UN Secretary-General on 30 April 1996. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

European Union Council

Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union. [28196]

Mr. David Davis: The information is as follows:

Subject: Monthly Forecast of Business for May 1996

1. The following Councils are scheduled:

3 May: Spatial Planning and Regional Development (informal)
4 May: Spatial Planning and Regional Development (informal)
5 May: Agriculture (informal)
6 May: Agriculture (informal)
6 May: Education
7 May: Agriculture (informal)
7 May: Energy
13 May: Foreign Affairs Council
14 May: Foreign Affairs Council
14 May: Health
20 May: Industry
20 May: Agriculture
21 May: Agriculture
23 May: Civil Protection
28 May: Development
28 May: Internal Market
29 May: Telecommunications
2. The following subjects are likely to be discussed: 3-4 May: Spatial Planning and Regional Development Council (informal)
Agenda not yet available
5-7 May: Agriculture Council (informal)
Agenda not yet available 6 May: Education Council

2 May 1996 : Column: 587

"A" Points
As advised by Council Secretariat
"A" Points
Open debate on White Paper on Education and Training
Draft resolution on multimedia software
Draft conclusions on synergies between academic recognition and professional recognition of qualifications
Commission note on the assessment of the quality of higher education
Commission note on the assessment of the quality of school education
Commission information on:
European Year of Lifelong Learning;
Cooperation with Third countries;
Progress on green Paper on Obstacles to Mobility'
Key education figures (1996 edition)
Communication from Greece on setting up a European centre for classical literature
7 May: Energy Council
"A" Points
As advised by Council Secretariat
"B" Points
Electricity liberalisation: common position (possible item)
Euro-Mediterranean energy cooperation: Council conclusions
Commission's Energy Policy White Paper: Council resolution
Commission communication on gas supply: Council conclusions
SAVE II energy efficiency programme: political agreement (possible item)
SYNERGY programme for energy cooperation with third countries: debate
Integrated resource planning directive: debate
Energy charter treaty: progress report
Commission report on civil protection, tourism and energy;
Commission presentation
Commission report on oil supply: Commission presentation
13-14 May: Foreign Affairs Council
Agenda not yet available
14 May: Health Council
"A" Points
As advised by Council Secretariat
"B" Points
Adoption of the draft agenda
Proposal for a decision adopting a programme of Community action on health monitoring within the framework for action in the field of public health: adoption of a common position
Proposal for a decision of the European parliament and of the council creating a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the European Community: orientation debate
Creation of an EU/US (EU/United States) action group charged with developing a global early warning system and response network for communicable diseases: information on work to date
Proposal for a decision of the EP and the Council adopting a Community programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within the framework for action in the field of public health: second reading, in preparation for concilliation with EP

2 May 1996 : Column: 588

Amended proposal for a Council directive on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states relating to the advertising of tobacco products: orientation debate
BSE and the potential risks for transmission to man: information from the commission and exchange of views.

20 May: Industry Council
"A" Points
As advised by Council Secretariat
"B" Points
SMEs: draft Council Decision for new multi-annual programme for SMEs: orientation debate
Industrial cooperation with third countries, and the Mediterranean Basin in particular: draft Council resolution
Automobile industry: Commission report on follow-up on Council resolution of 22 April 1994
Competition Policy: 25th annual Commission report on competition policy
Steel:
State aids--Commission monitoring report
Extension of steel state aid code: presentation and exchange of views
Commission document on expiry of ECSC treaty in 2002: exchange of views
Draft Council regulation on state aid for shipbuilding: exchange of views
20-21 May: Agricultural Council
"A" Points
As advised by Council Secretariat
"B" Points
Reform of the fruit and vegetable regime
Price fixing
Bananas (possible item)
Wine reform (possible item)
Olive oil reform (possible item)
Tobacco reform (possible item)
Plant health: solidarity and responsibility (possible item)
Veterinary and fish fees (possible item)
BSE
23 May: Civil Protection Council
"A" Points
As advised by Council Secretariat
"B" Points
Community action programme on civil protection
Resolution on civil protection research
Resolution on cooperation with the CEEs on civil protection
28 May: Internal Market Council
"A" Points
As advised by Council Secretariat
"B" Points
Sweeteners: common position
Traditional foodstuffs: common position
Miscellaneous additives: common position
Foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses (PARNUTS): common position (possible item)
Food irradiation: orientation debate

2 May 1996 : Column: 589

28 May: Development Council

"A" Points

As advised by Council Secretariat

"B" Points

Links between emergency aid, rehabilitation and reconstruction: debate on priorities for immediate action

Conflict prevention: presentation by the Commission

Operational co-ordination: Council conclusions

Council conclusions on:

Environmental impact evaluation

Decentralised co-operation

Migration and development

Counterpart funds

Proposals for legal bases for EC development cooperation (i.e. draft EC regulations governing EC aid) (possible item)

Other business:

Cocoa (requested by Belgium)

UN Reform (requested by Sweden)

29 May: Telecommunications Council

"A" Points

As advised by Council Secretariat

"B" Points

Directive on a common framework for general authorisations and individual licences in the field of telecommunications services: common position

Directive on common rules for the development of Community postal services and the improvement of the quality of service: common position

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