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Burundi

Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the current situation in Burundi; [40089]

Dr. Liam Fox: We are deeply concerned about the situation in Burundi and are in close contact with regional leaders and partners. We support efforts by ex-President Nyerere to negotiate a political settlement and welcomed the outcome of the Arusha settlement. We continue to support contingency planning at the UN and within the region for possible international intervention.

Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received and what discussions he has had about the possibility of intervention in Burundi by the Organisation of African Unity. [40090]

Dr. Fox: The Organisation of African Unity Summit in Yaounde endorsed the outcome of the Arusha summit. We welcome the decision by the OAU central organ to extend the mandate of the OAU observers and to sent a mission to Burundi.

Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assistance the British Government have provided and are prepared to offer to Burundi in respect of the current internal conflict; [40092]

Dr. Fox: United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimates that 17,000 Rwandan refugees have been forcibly repatriated in the current conflict. UNHCR and UN human rights monitors are monitoring the condition of the returnees. Britain has made representations to the Governments of Burundi and Rwanda calling on them to ensure the safety of refugees in their care and that all repatriation is on a voluntary basis. Discussions are also taking place in the UN Security Council.

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Britain has provided £2.6 million bilaterally and through the EU to Burundi since January 1996. My right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker intends to visit the region early next month. She will assess further needs.

Tropical Timber

Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting on tropical timber held in Geneva from 13 September. [40286]

Dr. Liam Fox: The International Tropical Timber Organisation met in Geneva on 13 September. It was decided that the new international tropical timber agreement, which has now been ratified or provisionally applied by 38 countries including the United Kingdom, should enter into force on 1 January 1997. The new agreement provides an important basis for continued efforts by the international community to improve the management of tropical forests and promote trade in sustainably produced tropical timber.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Salaries

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister how many persons working in (i) No. 10 Downing street and (ii) the Cabinet Office are paid more than £43,000 per annum. [40220]

The Prime Minister: The number of payees whose national salary is more than £43,000 per annum in No. 10 Downing street, the Cabinet Office, including the Office of Public Service and its agencies, is as follows:


Oman University

Mr. Meacher: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what reports he has received regarding the involvement by Mr. Mark Thatcher, in respect of companies in receipt of export credit guarantees from the ECGD, in the construction of a university in Oman; and if he will make a statement; [40277]

The Prime Minister: As far as my office is aware, none.

Parliamentary Recall

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his letter to the right hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Benn) and the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 9 September, if he will state the conditions in which he believes the public interest requires Parliament to be recalled, with particular reference to the involvement of British personnel on active service. [40365]

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The Prime Minister: A decision to recall Parliament depends upon the prevailing situation. It is made after consultation with colleagues and through the usual channels.

Academy of Sports

Mr. Spearing: To ask the Prime Minister what advice he sought from voluntary coaches and administrators in (a) athletics, (b) rowing, (c) canoeing, (d) swimming and (e) cycling (i) prior to and (ii) since his original announcements concerning his proposed academy of sports. [40404]

The Prime Minister: Details of the Government's proposals for the British Academy of Sport were included in the sports policy statement, "Sport: Raising the Game", which was published on 14 July 1995. The policy statement invited the Sports Council to bring forward proposals on what the structure and content of the academy might be, and to consult widely with the sports world on the ideas that might emerge. On 6 December 1995, the Sports Council published a consultation paper on the academy and comments were invited by the end of January. The Sports Council also held a series of consultation meetings with groups of administrators, coaches, performers and specialists from all sports, including representatives of the sports listed.

A prospectus inviting bids to establish the academy was published jointly by the Department of National Heritage and the Sports Council on 24 July. A summary of the consultation was published with it. Bidders have until 31 October to submit their bids.

British Legion

Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Prime Minster what further correspondence has been received in his office from the Royal British Legion in relation to its call for the setting up of an ex-service affairs unit; what reply has been sent; what action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement. [40374]

The Prime Minister: I have received one recent letter directed from the Royal British Legion regarding the setting up of an ex-service affairs unit. A reply has been sent. The position remains as I detailed in my answer to the hon. Member on 11 March, Official Report, columns 434-35.

Poverty Resources

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what policies Her Majesty's Government have established in support of the 1996 United Nations Year for the Eradication of Poverty: and what additional resources have been committed in support of these policies. [40491]

The Prime Minister: The United Kingdom has extensive social protection and assistance arrangements, among the most comprehensive in the world. It is by working to maintain and improve living standards through economic and social policies that we will fulfil the aspirations of the United Nations Year for the Eradication of Poverty, and in a way relevant to our society. The most effective way of eradicating poverty is to promote flexible labour markets since this reduces the level of

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unemployment. Claimant unemployment has already fallen by over 125,000 so far this year. The UK has more of its people in work and a lower unemployment rate than any other major EU country.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Ethnic Minorities

Ms. Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many women from ethnic minorities are employed by his Department and its agencies; at what grade; and what measures he has taken to encourage the (a) recruitment, (b) employment and (c) promotion of women from ethnic minorities within his Department and its agencies. [39898]

Mr. Hanley: Our records, based on voluntary declaration, show that this Department and its agencies employ the following numbers of ethnic minority women:


We are committed to encouraging the career development of all staff, irrespective of gender or ethnic origin. We have comprehensive programmes in place to ensure equality of access to recruitment, training, career development and promotion for all staff. We monitor all our procedures to ensure implementation.

We actively encourage ethnic minority applicants through our recruitment literature and campaigns and work closely with the Windsor Fellowship. We are also active members of Opportunity 2000.

Hong Kong (US Bombs)

Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent discovery by Customs at Hong Kong airport of US-made bombs in transit from China to Israel. [40072]

Mr. Hanley: A consignment of inert military ordnance was discovered by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department during a routine inspection on 24 May 1996. Charges were laid against the carrier, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd., for importing prohibited articles without a licence and failing to retain possession of the articles until a valid licence was produced. The airline pleaded guilty and was fined HK$80,000 or £6,600.

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