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Ghurkas
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what action he has taken to implement his undertaking to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal at Downing Street on 12 November to consider (a) bringing Gurkhas' pension rights nearer to those of British service personnel and (b) allowing more Gurkha wives to accompany their husbands on overseas duty. [4308]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Mr. Young) on 20 November, Official Report, column 613.
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 26 November. [4388]
The Prime Minister: This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
United Nations Secretary-General
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the President of the United States on the future of Dr. Boutros Ghali as Secretary-General of the United Nations; and if he will make a statement. [6305]
The Prime Minister: Her Majesty's Government have had frequent high-level discussions in recent months with the United States Administration on a wide range of UN issues, including the election of the UN Secretary-General.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
St. Helena
Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department has taken in respect of recent comments broadcast on Radio St. Helena by the governor of St. Helena relating to the quality of life on the island. [6216]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: In his broadcast on 11 September, the governor referred to meetings that he had had with Ministers in London on issues affecting
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St. Helena. Subsequently, officials from ODA and FCO visited St. Helena as part of their discussions with the St. Helena Government aimed at improving the economic situation on the island and its dependencies.
Iraq
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Iraqi opposition. [6537]
Mr. Hanley: We remain committed to the territorial integrity and unity of Iraq. It is for the Iraqi people to decide their political future. They have greatly suffered from Saddam Hussein's policies and his refusal to fulfil Iraq's international obligation. Sadly, we see no prospect that he will relent. We believe that the interests of the Iraqi people would be best served by a Government who are representative of all the Iraqi people and follow responsible policies. Efforts by Iraqis to form a unified and representative opposition to Saddam Hussein's regime with this aim therefore deserve our support and encouragement.
Exports (Indonesia)
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy on the export of defence equipment to Indonesia. [6538]
Mr. Hanley: The Government attach importance to our political and economic relationship with Indonesia. It plays a significant and responsible role both in the region and more broadly as a prominent member of various international groupings and a major contributor to peacekeeping forces. Our bilateral relations with Indonesia continue to develop strongly.
All applications to export UK defence equipment to Indonesia, and to other destinations, are carefully scrutinised on a case-by-case basis against established criteria and internationally agreed guidelines. Human rights are a key factor, and we take into consideration inter alia the political situation and the prospects in Indonesia. We do not license for export, to Indonesia or to any other country, any UK defence equipment likely to be used for internal repression. We apply this criterion rigorously, but remain confident that it leaves open the possibility of substantial co-operation with Indonesia in the procurement of defence equipment.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
European Fisheries Council
Mr. French: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the European Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 22 November. [6636]
Mr. Baldry: I represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Fisheries Council in Brussels on 22 November together with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Scottish Office and my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office.
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I again made it clear that the UK could not contemplate significant further reductions in its fleet without the issue of quota hoppers being resolved. I also reiterated the need for our performance under MAGP III to be correctly assessed and presented.
Following its inconclusive debate in October on the Commission's multi-annual guidance proposals--MAGP IV--the Council considered a presidency compromise aimed at meeting the concerns expressed by member states. Most felt that the compromise provided a basis for further work, but that considerable analysis and discussion would be needed before conclusions could be drawn.
The Council concluded that work on the presidency compromise would continue with a view to reaching a decision before the end of the year if possible.
On satellite monitoring, I supported the constructive approach taken by the presidency in producing a text which addressed our key concerns, in particular in exempting smaller vessels operating within 12 miles of the coast. I also put to the Council a suggestion from industry for synchronising implementation with new rules by the International Maritime Organisation relating to the global maritime distress and safety system; and I emphasised the need to use the advent of satellite monitoring to reduce the existing regulatory burden. Several member states continued to have difficulties on a variety of points and the presidency concluded that the Council would have to return to the issue at a later date.
The Council unanimously adopted fish prices for 1997.
The Commission also presented a report on the monitoring of third country vessels in Community waters which the Council noted.
Ms Janet Anderson:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to measure and evaluate the effect of his Department's policies on women. [5481]
Mrs. Browning:
In July this year, the model guidance on policy appraisal for equal treatment was revised and circulated at Cabinet level for Departments to adapt to their own circumstances. A copy was placed in the Library of the House. This guidance requires officials to identify policy issues which might impact differentially on women and men, and other groups, to assess whether this is justified in policy terms, and to adjust the policy if it is not.
Guidance was already in place in MAFF requiring those involved in the development of policies to evaluate the equal treatment aspects. Officials are now considering how best to revise this in the light of the revised model guidance.
Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many poultry meat inspection posts were created within local authorities to implement the Poultry Meat Hygiene Regulations 1995. [5498]
Mrs. Browning:
We are not aware that any poultry meat inspection posts have been created within local authorities to enforce these regulations. Poultry meat
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inspectors are appointed by Ministers to assist official veterinary surgeons in carrying out functions specified in the regulations relating to the supervision of licensed premises. Enforcement responsibility in such premises rests with the Meat Hygiene Service and not local authorities.
Sir Cranley Onslow:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions he has had with the Environment Agency in respect of the introduction of a new byelaw to change the opening date of the 1997 north-east drift netting season. [5688]
Mr. Baldry:
I wrote to the chairman of the National Rivers Authority on 12 February requesting that the NRA and its successor body, the Environment Agency, reconsider the case for further controls on the exploitation of spring salmon, including postponing the opening date of the north-east coast salmon drift net fishery. Subsequently, officials drew the Environment Agency's attention to advice by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea that measures should be taken to reduce fishing mortality by fisheries exploiting stocks, particularly of multi-sea-winter salmon, other than those in individual rivers which are above minimum biologically accepted levels.
Mr. Tipping:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many payments were made in 1995 under the arable area payments scheme (a) £0 and £5,000, (b) £5,001 and £10,000, (c) £10,001 and £15,000, (d) £15,001 and £20,000, (e) £20,001 and £25,000, (f) £25,001 and £30,000, (g) £30,001 and £35,000, (h) £35,001 and £40,000, (i) £40,001 and £50,000, (j) £50,001 and £75,000, (k) £75,001 and £100,000, (l) £100,001 and £150,000, (m) £150,001 and £200,000, (n) £200,001 and £250,000, (o) £250,001 and £500,000, (p) £500,001 and £1 million, (q) £1 million and £1.5 million, (r) £1.5 million and £2 million and (s) in excess of £2 million. [5707]
Mr. Baldry:
The following table sets out the numbers of payments made by the Ministry under the 1995 arable area payments scheme in the bands requested. Some claimants will have received more than one payment.
| Size band | Number of payments |
|---|---|
| (a) £0 and £5,000 | 34.012 |
| (b) £5,001 and £10,000 | 11,746 |
| (c) £10,001 and £15,000 | 7,404 |
| (d) £15,001 and £20,000 | 4,570 |
| (e) £20,001 and £25,000 | 3,212 |
| (f) £25,001 and £30,000 | 2,285 |
| (g) £30,001 and £35,000 | 1,853 |
| (h) £35,001 and £40,000 | 1,426 |
| (i) £40,001 and £50,000 | 1,943 |
| (j) £50,001 and £75,000 | 2,421 |
| (k) £75,001 and £100,000 | 1,100 |
| (l) £100,001 and £150,000 | 771 |
| (m) £150,001 and £200,000 | 238 |
| (n) £200,001 and £250,000 | 120 |
| (o) £250,001 and £500,000 | 93 |
| (p) £500,001 and £1 million | 12 |
| (q) £1 million and £1.5 million | 4 |
| (r) and (s) over £1.5 million | 0 |
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