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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Exports Ban

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what legislative provision the EU has power to ban United Kingdom exports to third countries; and when that provision came into force. [31762]

Mr. David Davis: Export of goods from the UK to third countries is principally governed by the EC's common commercial policy. That policy is based on article 113 of the EC treaty, and is given effect in a range of measures, including the common rules for exports. However, certain export prohibitions might, depending on the goods in question or the aim of the prohibition, be based on other articles of the treaty, or on powers in subordinate legislation adopted under those articles. Exercise of these powers is subject to the principle of proportionality.

Visitor Visas

Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the number of visitor applications made, (b) the number of visas granted and (c) the number of illegal overstays from the visas issued in respect of each British embassy in the last available year. [32210]

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

Mrs. Wise: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visitor visas have been rejected by the entry clearance

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officers in Pakistan in the last year; and how many were rejected in the year before the removal of the right of appeal. [32182]

Mr. Hanley: Entry clearance officers in Pakistan refused 12,218 visit visa applications in 1995. In 1992, the year prior to the removal of appeals against visit visa refusals, the number was 11,012.

Mrs. Wise: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the applications for visitor visas rejected by the high commission in Pakistan in the past year were (a) fathers and (b) mothers of people resident in the United Kingdom. [32184]

Mr. Hanley: This information is not readily available at post and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mrs. Wise: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people intending to apply for visitor visas in the past year were informed by the high commission in Pakistan that they should not make a formal application because they would have no chance of success. [32191]

Mr. Hanley: An entry clearance officer may advise an applicant to withdraw his/her visa application only if it is unlikely to succeed. In 1995, 13,717 applicants were so advised at the high commission in Islamabad.

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft text of the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty agreed by the United Nations conference on disarmament on 28 May. [32049]

Mr. David Davis: A copy of the draft comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty, tabled by the chairman of the negotiations on 28 May, has been placed in the Library of the House.

Land Mines

Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's timetable for the elimination of the use of land mines worldwide. [30908]

Mr. David Davis: We will press for the earliest possible international agreement on a total world-wide ban on anti-personnel land mines.

EU Council

Ms Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those EU decisions requiring unanimity which are on the agenda of EU Council meetings over the next three months. [31959]

Mr. David Davis: The following decisions requiring unanimity are expected to appear on the Council agenda between now and the end of June. There is no reliable information on the agenda after that date.

Date	Forum for agreement	Measures
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Council conclusions in advance of 12 EU/US summit on implementation of action plan
10 June 1996	General affairs council	EU/Canadian action plan
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Financial services protocol to the GATS
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Maritime transport
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Conclusions of market access strategy
10 June 1996	General affairs council	TACIS regulation
10 June 1996	General affairs council	MEDA regulation
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Signature of EU/Korea trade and co-operations agreement and political declaration
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Financial regulation on aid for former Yugoslavia
10 June 1996	General affairs council	EU/Turkey financial regulation

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Date	Forum for agreement	Measures	Brief description
10 June 1996	General affairs council	EU/Slovenia association agreement
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Common position for EU/Turkey association council
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Signature of EU/Chile agreement
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Possible council conclusions on commission communication on Trade and Environment
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Declaration of principles on Middle East
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Common position for EU/Syria co-operation council 10 June
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Common position for 10 EEA council
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Signature of PCA with Uzbekistan
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Adaptation protocols for PCAs with Russia, Ukraine and Moldavia
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Procedure for appointing EU envoys in CFSP
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Common position/joint action on biological and chemical weapons
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Political decision on resumption of aid to Niger
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Common position for ACP/EU ministerial 26-28 June
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Report on Latin American and Caribbean drugs
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Decision in principle on observatory on racism and xenophobia
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Political decision to hold Europe-Africa summit
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Joint action: stability and good neighbourliness in former Yugoslavia
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Council conclusions on political dialogue arrangements
10 June 1996	General affairs council	Declaration for Florence summit on MEPP
10 June 1996	General affairs council	EU relations with the Council of Europe
10 June 1996	Fisheries council	UN agreement on straddling stocks and highly migratory species
10 June 1996	Fisheries council	Draft European council conclusions on European fisheries research
11 June 1996	Culture council	Council decision on ARIANNE programme
11 June 1996	Culture council	Council decision on RAPHAEL programme
11 June 1996	Culture council	Resolution on access to culture
11 June 1996	Culture council	Resolution on electronic publishing and libraries
17 June 1996	Transport council	None
19 June 1996	Research council	Decision adopting the 4th R and D framework programme
19 June 1996	Research council	Supplementary research programme on high flux reactor
19 June 1996	Energy council	None
24 June 1996	Agriculture council	None
25 June 1996	Environment council	Conclusion on carbon dioxide from cars
25 June 1996	Environment council	Conclusions on biodiversity (biosecurity protocol)
25 June 1996	Environment council	Conclusions on climate change
25 June 1996	Environment council	Procedural conclusions on water
27 June 1996	Telecoms council	Resolution on universal service
27 June 1996	Telecoms council	Programme for multi-lingual information society
	Item not tied to particular forum	Ratification of energy charter treaty
	Item not tied to particular forum	Revised ECJ rules of procedure
	Item not tied to particular forum	2nd protocol of W10 services agreement
	Item not tied to particular forum	Duty derogation for unleaded petrol in Ireland (from ECOFIN)
	Item not tied to particular forum	VAT derogation for Neisse Bridge (from ECOFIN)
	Item not tied to particular forum	Final report on 1996 Europol budget (from JHA council)
	Item not tied to particular forum	Accession of new member states to Brussels and Rome conventions (from JHA council)
	Item not tied to particular forum	Joint action on racism and xenophobia (from JHA council)

11 Jun 1996 : Column: 142

Ms Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion, expressed as a percentage and in numbers of EU Council measures requiring unanimity have been opposed by the Government because of their non-co-operation strategy when they would otherwise have supported them; and if he will list these measures. [32290]

Mr Davis: The decisions blocked between the Prime Minister's statement on 21 May and 7 June are set out in my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's answer to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) today. The majority of those decisions have been blocked as a consequence of the non-co-operation policy, and the UK stands ready to agree them as soon as a framework is in place for lifting the beef export ban.

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