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EU Directives

Mr. Brian David Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many directives were approved by the Council of Ministers in each year since 1992. [35240]

Mr. David Davis: According to the latest data in the Commission's CELEX database on Community legislation, the number of directives adopted by the Council is as follows:


The CELEX database figures do not include acts of day-to-day management whose validity does not exceed a few weeks and purely informative documents of minor importance.

Child Labour

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of China concerning the use of child labour; and if he will make a statement. [36318]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor: We continue to be deeply concerned about reports of the exploitation of child labour in China. We take every suitable opportunity to raise our concerns about all forms of human rights abuse in China with the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally and in conjunction with our EU partners. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs did so during his talks with Chinese leaders in Peking in January, and again with the Chinese Foreign Minister in The Hague on 20 April.

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Pakistan concerning child and bonded labour; and if he will make a statement. [36320]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor: We regularly raise our concerns about child and bonded labour with the Government of Pakistan. Poverty clearly exacerbates the problem, but is not an excuse for abusive child labour; there is no justification for bonded labour. We welcome steps taken to improve the situation, but much remains to be done.

Bahrain

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whom the Minister of State met to discuss human rights during his recent visit to Bahrain; and if he will make a statement. [36322]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor: During his recent visit to Bahrain, the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley), discussed human rights with the Amir, the Prime Minister and the Ministers of the Interior and of Foreign Affairs.

Russia (British Visas)

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the current facilities are

10 Jul 1996 : Column: 224

for people who are waiting while applying for visas at (a) the British embassy in Moscow and (b) the British consulate general in St. Petersburg. [36323]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The visa section in Moscow has been completely refurbished and enlarged this year. There are eight counter positions for visa officers, seating for 108 applicants and standing room for a further 50, clear signposting and washroom facilities. Shelter is provided for those queuing outside.

The St. Petersburg visa section moves shortly into much improved and larger premises. These will provide for three visa officer positions at the reception counter, public seating for 20 and standing for 50, and washroom facilities.

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the average time taken to process a visa application at (a) the British embassy in Moscow and (b) the British consulate general in St. Petersburg in each of the last five years. [36324]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The target time laid down in best practice for processing straightforward visit visa applications at all entry clearance issuing posts, is the same day if practical or 24 hours. Bulk applications from local courier firms of travel agents are processed, by agreement, in 10 days.

Moscow and St. Petersburg have operated according to these target times.

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visa applications have been refused in each of the last five years from (a) the British embassy in Moscow and (b) the British consulate general in St. Petersburg. [36325]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor: The information is as follows:


OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

World Bank (Child Labour)

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the World bank in the consideration of development projects concerning child labour. [36319]

Mr. Hanley: No formal representations have been made to the World bank concerning child labour. The ODA played an active role in the World bank consultation

10 Jul 1996 : Column: 225

on the world development report 1995 "Workers in an Integrated World" and helped ensure that the issue of child labour was properly addressed in the document.

TREASURY

Unemployment Benefit

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are currently claiming unemployment benefit; and what was the figure in 1979. [35483]

Mrs. Angela Knight: On the consistent, seasonally adjusted basis, the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits--unemployment benefit, income support or national insurance credits--in the United Kingdom was 2,167,600 in May 1996 and 1,086,800 in May 1979.

Fish Export Certificates

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of how fish importers can verify EUR1 certificates issued by customs of exporting countries of fish or prawns; [35653]

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: Advice to importers is set out in customs notice 826. This recognises the difficulties that importers may experience in trying to establish whether a certificate is valid or whether goods shown on it are eligible for preferential tariff treatment. The notice warns of the potential further duty liability and advises importers to consider the advantages of including a clause in their contracts allowing them to recover any such duty charge from the supplier. Whether importers chose to take precautions against such business risks is, however, a matter of commercial judgment.

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to claim compensation for inaccurate EUR1 certificates from the customs offices of exporting countries. [35522]

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The trade agreements between the European Community and third countries do not provide for the payment of compensation.

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what redress his Department (a) has taken and (b) proposes to take against customs offices of an exporting country who issue EUR1 certificates which turn out to be inaccurate. [35577]

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The UK has made strong representations concerning these difficulties at EC meetings and gained considerable support from other member states. At the end of May, the Council of Ministers asked the Commission to produce proposals by 31 December 1996, taking into consideration suggestions by the UK and other member states, to tackle the problem of retrospective duty demands arising from inaccurate preference documents.

10 Jul 1996 : Column: 226

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to eradicate fraud in respect of the issuing of invalid EUR1 certificates. [35521]

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The customs authorities in the country of export are responsible for issuing EUR1s, verifying any certificates returned by foreign import authorities and considering sanctions against exporters who abuse the system. Customs confirms that appropriate action is taken against UK exporters who are found to have made false EUR1 declarations.

Isle of Wight (Tax System)

Mr. Barry Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Isle of Wight council to give the Isle of Wight a separate tax system. [35592]

Mr. Jack: I have received no representations from the Isle of Wight council about giving the Isle of Wight a separate tax system.

EU Contributions

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the United Kingdom's net contribution to the EU for each year since 1975 in 1975 prices. [35708]

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The United Kingdom's net contributions to the EU for the period 1975-76 to 1994-95, in 1975-76 prices are set out in the table.

£ million
1975-7616
1976-77198
1977-78434
1978-79535
1979-80528
1980-81118
1981-82104
1982-83317
1983-84395
1984-85443
1985-86368
1986-87439
1987-88618
1988-89374
1989-90733
1990-91605
1991-92246
1992-93543
1993-94533
1994-95392

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