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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 13 November 1996
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
EU Research and Development Programme
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the European Commission concerning integration of applied research funded under the fifth framework programme and national research initiatives. [3167]
Mr. Ian Taylor: I have been asked to reply.
The UK set out its view on the relationship of EU and nationally funded research programmes in its position paper on the fifth framework programme for research and technological development, submitted to the European Commission in June 1996. This is available on the Internet at http://www.open.gov.uk/ost/osthome.html.
Mrs. Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the European Commission as regards the priority accorded to basic research in the fifth framework programme. [3165]
Mr. Taylor:
I have been asked to reply.
The UK set out its view on the place of basic research in the EU's fifth framework programme for research and technological development in its position paper submitted to the European Commission in June 1996. This can be found on the Internet at http://www.open.gov.uk/ost/osthome.html.
Mrs. Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the EU on the levels of funding available for social sciences and humanities under the fifth framework programme. [3166]
Mr. Taylor:
I have been asked to reply.
None. At this early stage in the negotiations for the EU's fifth framework programme for research and technological development, it is premature to make representations on levels of funding for specific parts of the programme.
Mrs. Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that the quality of research funded by the fifth framework programme is of a similar standard to that funded in the United Kingdom. [3164]
Mr. Taylor:
I have been asked to reply.
The UK attaches great importance to research funded by the EU's framework programmes for research and technological development being of the highest quality. In
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the negotiations on the EU's fifth framework programme the UK will press for scientific excellence to remain the primary criterion for selecting projects for support.
Mrs. Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are taking in respect of the indirect costs of European research programmes to enable universities to participate actively in the fifth framework programme. [3168]
Mr. Taylor:
I have been asked to reply.
None. It is for individual institutions to decide whether to bid for EU framework programme funds on the basis of the EU's conditions of funding.
Mr. Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had on the furtherance of nuclear co-operation with France at the Anglo-French summit in Bordeaux. [3618]
Mr. David Davis:
My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, together with our French counterparts, reviewed the work of the Franco-British Joint Nuclear Commission.
Mr. Simpson:
To ask the Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the United States Government before the Anglo-French summit on the matters to be discussed there. [3565]
Mr. Davis:
My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary had no specific discussions with the United States Government prior to the UK-French summit on matters to be discussed there.
Mr. Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the members of his Department who attended the Anglo-French summit in Bordeaux and (b) the positions they hold. [3619]
Mr. Davis:
The following members of this Department accompanied me to the UK French summit in Bordeaux:
Mr. Davis:
No representatives of the United States Government attended the UK-French summit as observers.
Mr. Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place copies of all agreements reached between Britain and
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France and all communiques issued during the Anglo-French summit in Bordeaux in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [3603]
Mr. Davis:
One joint agreement was signed at the summit, a UK-French naval letter of intent; and one joint statement was issued, on Zaire. A copy of each will be deposited in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had on the memorandum of agreement on co-operation concerning nuclear safety and security which the United States of America signed with France on 4 June at the Anglo-French summit in Bordeaux [3617]
Mr. Soames:
I have been asked to reply.
We have had no such discussions.
Mr. Mullin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government regarding the detention of Mr. Ngawang Choephel; and if he will make a statement. [3659]
Mr. Hanley:
A great many cases, such as those of Ngawang Choephel, are brought to our attention. We continue to be concerned about such cases, and regularly express our views about the human rights situation in Tibet to the Chinese authorities. I did so most recently when I met the Chinese Vice Premier Li Lanqing in London on 5 November.
Mr. Fatchett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the advice given by his Department to the Home Office about political freedom in Pakistan following the recent decision by the President of that country to dismiss the Government. [3559]
Dr. Liam Fox:
We are continuing to monitor closely the situation in Pakistan in conjunction with the Home Office. It is important that the elections called for 3 February are free and fair.
Mr. Fatchett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the report of the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Pakistan; and if he will list the steps taken by his Government to ensure that the special rapporteur's recommendations are implemented. [3560]
Dr. Fox:
The Special Rapporteur on Torture has reported instances of serious human rights abuses in Pakistan. We expect such allegations to be fully investigated. We have regularly raised human rights issues with Pakistan, most recently when I met the Human Rights Minister in Islamabad in October, and will continue to do so.
Mr. Wallace:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response Her Majesty's Government have made to the findings of the Secretary-General's report to the General Assembly of the
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United Nations in September 1995, regarding the health, social and economic conditions of areas in Belarus, Ukraine, and the southern Russian Federation which were worst affected by the Chernobyl disaster; and if he will make a statement. [3696]
Dr. Liam Fox:
The Secretary-General's report on the Chernobyl accident, presented to the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 1995, was studied with great interest by those UK Government Departments and agencies concerned. It was a valuable contribution to international understanding of the problems arising from the accident. The main emphasis of the UK's aid policy in relation to the affected areas of Belarus, Ukraine and in Russia has been to deliver assistance through international agencies, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Health Organisation and the European Union. We believe such agencies are best placed to co-ordinate and prioritise the work that needs to be done.
Mr. Wallace:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives Her Majesty's Government (a) have taken and (b) plan to take in 1996 to provide bilateral aid to the Governments of Ukraine and Belarus for the purposes of alleviating the social, health, economic and environmental effects of the Chernobyl disaster; and if he will make a statement. [3697]
Dr. Fox:
Since 1986, UK bilateral assistance has included £6.1 million from the UK's know-how fund for energy sector reform measures in Ukraine, and we have funded land remediation feasibility studies in the region via the environmental know-how fund. But most of the UK's assistance is channelled through joint programmes managed with our G7 and EU partners. So far, we have contributed £18.25 million to the international nuclear safety account, of which £10 million has been earmarked for Chernobyl-related projects. The Department of Health is supporting international activities to deal with health effects from Chernobyl and is directly supporting research on the incidence of childhood thyroid cancer. This year we have supported work on radioactive food screening and soil decontamination.
Mr. Wallace:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the Government have made to the United Nations trust fund for the relief of Chernobyl victims. [3698]
Dr. Fox:
Her Majesty's Government have contributed £25,000 to the United Nations trust fund for the relief of Chernobyl victims.
Mr. Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which representatives of the United States Government attended the Anglo-French summit as observers. [3564]
London delegation
Mr. W. G. Ehrman: principle private secretary
Mr. J. Macadie: Private secretary, Minister of State
Ms E. R. Rea: Personal assistant
Mr. P. Lever: Director for EU and economic affairs and deputy under-secretary of state
Mr. J. Greenstock: Political director and deputy under-secretary of state
Mr. N. Sheinwald: Head of news department
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