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Sri Lanka
27. Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government on the armed conflict with Tamil separatists. [30870]
Mr. Hanley: My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the conflict in Sri Lanka with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, the hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar, during his visit to London in January. I have had further discussions about the conflict with Ministers of the Sri Lanka Government who have visited London since then.
Tibet
28. Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise human rights in Tibet with the Chinese Government; and if he will make a statement. [30871]
Mr. Hanley: It is our policy to raise our concerns about the human rights situation in China, including Tibet, with the Chinese authorities at every appropriate opportunity.
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Gibraltar
29. Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to discuss future United Kingdom policy on Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [30872]
Mr. David Davis: I met the new Gibraltar Chief Minister on 5 June. We had detailed discussions on a wide range of issues, including unacceptable delays at the frontier with Spain.
European Court of Justice
30. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss the role of the European Court of Justice in the intergovernmental conference. [30873]
Mr. David Davis: In due course, we shall publish a memorandum on the European Court of Justice, setting out in greater detail the proposals outlined in the recent White Paper "A Partnership of Nations".
Cyprus
31. Dr. Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the United Nations regarding the occupation of the northern part of Cyprus by Turkish troops. [30875]
Mr. David Davis: Cyprus was discussed at an informal meeting of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council on 17 April. They reaffirmed that the status quo was unacceptable and stressed the need for a comprehensive approach leading to a settlement within the framework of the UN Secretary-General's mission of good offices.
Sudan
32. Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Sudan. [30876]
Mr. Hanley: Sudan continues to suffer from the long-running civil war. There is little sign of willingness to make progress towards a negotiated solution, although Her Majesty's Government continue to urge this upon all concerned. The human rights situation continues to give us grave cause for concern, as does Sudan's hospitality to terrorist groups. We are watching closely for firm evidence that Sudan is complying with Security Council resolutions 1044 and 1054.
Bahrain
34. Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Government of Bahrain to discuss human rights in that country; and if he will make a statement. [30878]
Mr. Hanley: Human rights issues have been discussed at ministerial or official levels on numerous occasions, and will be raised again during my visit this month.
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Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom and Bahrain. [32246]
Mr. Hanley: Bahrain is a close ally and under our 1971 treaty of friendship there is good co-operation in all fields.
I shall be visiting Bahrain myself next week to discuss a wide range of issues with the Bahraini Government.
Mr. Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent representations he has received relating to the matter of the detention in Bahrain of the wife of Mr. John Paul Goostrey; [32248]
Mr. Hanley:
Mr. Goostrey's wife, a Bahraini citizen, is not in detention in Bahrain, but her family have obtained a court injunction preventing her from leaving the country. She is applying to the court for this decision to be overturned. The British embassy is in regular contact with Mr. Goostrey and his wife and will continue to provide all the help that it can.
Mr. Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Bahraini ambassador in London about the matter of the detention in Bahrain of the wife of Mr. John Paul Goostrey. [32249]
Mr. Hanley:
None, but I plan to discuss the matter with our ambassador on my visit to Bahrain in the near future.
Mr. Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the number of British citizens whose spouses are citizens of Bahrain; and what advice he would give to such individuals about visiting Bahrain. [32247]
Mr. Hanley:
We do not maintain records of foreign spouses of British nationals.
There is no advice particular to such individuals, although they have access to our current travel advice on Bahrain.
35. Sir Colin Shepherd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Hong Kong to discuss administrative arrangements after 30 June 1997. [30879]
Mr. Hanley:
My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has no immediate plans to visit Hong Kong, but discussions with China on matters relating to the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong continue at official level, most recently at the 36th plenary session of the Sino-British joint liaison group in London on 5 to 7 June.
36. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Secretary General
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of the Arab League during his official visit to the United Kingdom in relation to starvation among children in the valleys of the Tigris and the Euphrates. [30880]
Mr. Hanley:
The condition of children in Iraq was discussed with Dr. Meguid with particular reference to Saddam Hussain's failure to provide satisfactorily for them.
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent during the financial years 1994-95 and 1995-96 on sending civil servants accompanying Ministers from his Department on official duties abroad. [32410]
Mr. Hanley:
Neither the Foreign Commonwealth Office diplomatic wing nor the Overseas Development Administration holds the information in the form requested, and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Diplomatic wing expenditure on overseas travel by Ministers and accompanying officials was £1,848,932 in 1994-95 and £1,496,109 in 1995-96.
ODA private office expenditure on travel and subsistence, including the Minister and civil servants working in the private office, was £131,993 in 1994-95 and £139,951 in 1995-96.
Mr. Ian Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, by Department, the number of officials and other experts from the United Kingdom who assist the European Commission in drawing up legislation under the comitology procedure established by the Council decision of 13 July 1987, laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission. [32462]
Mr. David Davis:
UK officials participate in the exercise by the Commission of delegated powers to make secondary legislation, through their representation on the committees established under the Council decision on the comitology procedure of 13 July 1987. The number of officials and which Department they are from depends on the committees currently sitting and on the subject matter concerned.
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Argentina on establishing the fate of those who disappeared during the period of military rule from 1976 to 1983 and to bring those responsible before the courts; and if he will make a statement. [30813]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
We have made no recent representations.
(2) what action he has taken to date to assist Mr. John Paul Goostrey in the matter of the detention of his wife in Bahrain. [32245]
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