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United States of America
6. Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of relations between the United Kingdom and the United States of America. [35166]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: Relations between the United Kingdom and the United States remain excellent.
Mr. Fabricant: Bearing in mind the excellent news on television this lunchtime of a £1.7 billion investment from Korea which is to create 6,000 jobs in south Wales, and further bearing in mind the fact that the United States economy is going through a period of growth, as is that of the United Kingdom--unlike continental Europe, which is going through recession--is not the policy of the British Government, not to have a blinkered approach in our relationship with Europe, but to strengthen British and American and, indeed, far eastern relations, right?
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: It is a primary purpose of the Government's policy that we should encourage free trade. We look especially to the United States as a major partner in that exercise and, as my hon. Friend rightly said, the sooner we can attain the World Trade Organisation target of free trade throughout the world, the better it will be for British industry and the British people.
Mr. Ernie Ross: Have the Government had the opportunity to discuss with the American Administration the outcome of the recent Israeli election? Have they had the opportunity to draw to the attention of the American Administration the excellent statement on the middle east made by the Heads of Government in Florence? If the Government have not had that opportunity, will they make it clear to the American Administration that we want them to make it clear to Mr. Netanyahu, during his visit to the United States, that we expect the new Israeli Government to abide by the international agreement if there is to be peace in the middle east?
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The United States Government and Her Majesty's Government are determined to see the peace process in the middle east continue successfully. We are watching very closely the effects of the election of Prime Minister Netanyahu, which I trust will not in any way inhibit the process of the talks and the move towards peace. We will have to watch that as time progresses.
Mr. John Marshall: Will my hon. Friend speculate on how relations between Britain and America would have been affected if we had given up our independent deterrent, as recommended by the leaders of new Labour?
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: I must admit that there are very few things that I would prefer to speculate on. It would be an horrific prospect, and I am delighted that it did not occur.
Gibraltar
7. Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to secure an end to the delays in crossing the border between Gibraltar and Spain since the new Administration have taken office in Gibraltar. [53167]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. David Davis): I saw the border queues for myself when I was in Gibraltar last week, and the delay on that day was well over an hour. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I have made strong representations to the Spanish Government about the delays, and we will continue to do so as firmly and as often as is necessary to put an end to this disgraceful situation.
Dr. Marek: Will the Minister do something in the forums of the world to make it clear to other countries that it is not the Spanish position on this matter that it right, but the British and Gibraltarian position on this matter that is right? The Minister could do that by using his diplomatic skills and by using the diplomatic skills of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Will the Minister make a start by raising the issue at the intergovernmental conference later this year?
Mr. Davis: My right hon. and learned Friend spoke to the Spanish Foreign Secretary, Mr. Matutes, a little while ago. Since that discussion, there has been an improvement at the border, but it is not good enough because it is not reliable--it has to be reliable to allow the economy of Gibraltar to progress properly.
We have raised the matter with the European Commission, which understands our position, and with other countries in the European Union. We have also raised the issue in other forums--for example, we have stood by Gibraltar in the United Nations. We have taken up this matter in a variety of forums, and we will continue to pursue the interests of Gibraltar as long and as far as is necessary.
Mr. Colvin:
Does my hon. Friend agree that the introduction and acceptance of European proof identity cards as valid travel documents would be one way to reduce frontier delays at any frontier within the European Union? In this respect, Gibraltar is one step ahead of the United Kingdom--we are still talking about identity cards, but Gibraltar has them. What measures will the Government take to try to persuade the Spanish authorities to accept identity cards as valid travel documents?
Mr. Davis:
My hon. Friend has a valid point. I have taken up this matter with the European Commission, and it has said that the identity card is acceptable. However, not surprisingly, the Spanish Government have not accepted that, and we are starting that process right now.
8. Mrs. Helen Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what study his Department has conducted on the advantages and disadvantages of majority voting in the Council of Ministers of the European Union. [35168]
Mr. David Davis:
We have considered the issue carefully in consultation with other Government Departments. Our conclusion is that majority voting already applies in those areas of the treaty where it is needed--for example, in the single market and in external trade policy. We do not see the case for extending qualified majority voting.
Mrs. Jackson:
Is it the case that, in the fortnight that the Government played hard to get, they used their veto no fewer than 61 times on issues as diverse as cut flowers and the European Year Against Racism? Does the Minister agree that to achieve enlargement of the European Union, some reform of the structural funds is necessary and that agreement on that will not be possible without some change in voting in the Council of Ministers? Is it not plain silly for the Government not to agree to any change in this area? Does not that expose the hypocrisy of the Government's view that they are really in favour of enlargement of the European Union?
Mr. Davis:
That argument is completely bogus. If there were a Labour Government--an improbable occurrence--and they pursued the idea that financing limits and financing matters should be conducted on qualified majority voting, they would be the only Government in Europe following that line.
Mr. Congdon:
Does my hon. Friend agree that, whatever arguments were advanced in the past in favour of extending qualified majority voting, practice has shown that, whenever we take that step, this country's interests are inevitably overridden by our European partners? Therefore, will he assure the House that the Government will resist any attempt to extend QMV and will maintain our veto?
Mr. Davis:
I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government will resist any attempt to extend QMV. However, I do not agree with one aspect of his remarks: qualified majority voting was an important component in the development of the single market. It has proved an important tool in that respect, but that is as far as it needs to go.
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones:
Does the Minister recognise that, in other areas of the Union's work--particularly with regard to the common agricultural policy--the Government would not have been able to reach agreement in discussions with their partners but for qualified majority voting and eventually a simple majority? Does he accept that the proposal means that, if the Government oppose qualified majority voting on a similar issue in future, they will be looking both ways?
Mr. Davis:
The hon. Gentleman overlooks the fact that that problem arose in the first place because of qualified majority voting.
9. Mr. French:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and with whom he last had discussions on relations between North and South Korea. [35169]
Mr. Rifkind:
I discussed this with my Group of Seven-Group of Eight colleagues at the summit in Lyon.
Mr. French:
As a result of today's announcement, my right hon. and learned Friend will have in mind the enormous importance of South Korean inward investment in the United Kingdom. Does he recognise also the South Koreans' deep desire to establish a more sensible and reasonable working relationship with the North Koreans and to deal with the obstacles that stand in their way? Will he redouble his efforts to ensure that more open dialogue is established with North Korea in the interests of stability in the whole of east Asia?
Mr. Rifkind:
Our congratulations go to the Welsh Office and to all those who were instrumental in acquiring that massive inward investment from South Korea in the United Kingdom. It is significant that more than 50 per cent. of all Korean investment in the European Union comes to the United Kingdom. That demonstrates the attractiveness of our economy and of the environment that we have created. It proves yet again why unnecessary burdens, such as the social chapter, would only damage this country's well-being.
As to the second aspect of my hon. Friend's question, I agree that dialogue with North Korea can only be helpful. The recent proposals from the United States point in that direction.
Mr. Flynn:
Although I congratulate all those involved, including the Welsh Office, the Welsh Development Agency and especially the Labour-controlled Newport borough council on its far-sightedness in preparing the site for this gigantic investment, and although the investment is welcome and will have a marvellous effect on my constituency, does the Foreign Secretary recall that Newport is the cwm silicon--the silicon valley--of south Wales, because the British company, INMOS Ltd., set up and prospered in south Wales until it moved from that site to Italy and France, which have both the social chapter and the minimum wage?
Mr. Rifkind:
That may be so, but the hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that the bulk of investment in the European Union--whether it is from Korea, the United States, Japan or elsewhere--comes to the United Kingdom. The hon. Gentleman will bear that in mind if he has his constituents' interests at heart.
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