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Government Employees Abroad
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidelines are provided to British Government employees working in, or visiting, foreign countries in respect of behaviour towards children which under United Kingdom law would be exploitative or abusive with particular reference to countries where local legislation differs substantially from that in the United Kingdom. [11203]
Mr. Hanley: There are no specific guidelines in respect of behaviour towards children, but all employees of this Department have a duty to respect British law and, when overseas, local laws. The general principles of conduct are set out in diplomatic service regulations, the civil service management code and in contracts of employment.
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current guidelines provided to British Government employees working in or visiting foreign countries in respect of behaviour towards children which under United Kingdom law would be exploitative or abusive; and if he will make a statement. [11204]
Mr. Hanley: There are no specific guidelines in respect of behaviour towards children; but the general principles governing the conduct of employees of this Department accord with the central framework of rules and principles of conduct set out in the civil service management code. These general principles are also set out in the diplomatic service code of ethics which was introduced on 1 January 1996.
Bougossa Family
Mr. Ron Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to secure the extradition of Rhaha Bougossa from Tunisia; and if he will make a statement. [11159]
17 Jan 1997 : Column: 423
Mr. Hanley: The absence of an extradition treaty between the UK and Tunisia precludes action to extradite Mr. Rhaha Bougossa from Tunisia. However, the British embassy in Tunisia has assisted Mr. Bougossa's ex-wife to begin proceedings to pursue through the Tunisian courts her case to obtain custody of her children.
Mr. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the abduction to Tunisia of British-born twins Nathan and Adam Bougossa; what action he has taken to date to seek their return to their natural mother in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [11158]
Dr. Liam Fox: We have received representations from Pamela Hamilton, Glenys Kinnock Member of the European Parliament, the hon. Member for East Berkshire (Mr. MacKay) and Mary Banotti, Member of the European Parliament. Our embassy visited the children, helped Mrs. Hamilton to meet senior officials and to lobby the Tunisian President. It also helped her engage solicitors who are trying to obtain a custody order and to arrange further access.
China
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of China regarding Ngaweng Chephel since he was sentenced; and if he will make a statement. [11091]
Mr. Hanley: The Chinese authorities are well aware of our concern about the treatment of individuals in Tibet. The sentencing to 18 years imprisonment of Ngawang Choephel was discussed in detail at a recent meeting with our EU partners, and we are now considering with them what action to take.
Burma
Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department gave to British Airways before the company began operating tours in Burma. [11172]
Dr. Liam Fox: I understand that British Airways does not operate tours in Burma, but that British Airways Holidays does. The latter did not consult the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before starting operations.
Hong Kong (Vietnamese Boat People)
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people are currently in detention camps in Hong Kong; if the governor will exercise discretionary compassionate powers enabling them to remain in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement. [11062]
Mr. Hanley: As of 16 January this year, 5,836 Vietnamese migrants were held in detention centres in Hong Kong compared with 20,225 on 1 January 1996.
Hong Kong is working to implement the internationally agreed comprehensive plan of action which provides for the return to Vietnam of all Vietnamese asylum seekers who have been determined to be non-refugees. It remains an important objective of the British and Hong Kong Governments to complete that repatriation process as soon as possible.
17 Jan 1997 : Column: 424
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to require the name, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to be utilised in both his and the Irish Republic's copy of agreements he proposes to sign with that country; and if he will make a statement. [11198]
Mr. Rifkind:
No. The practice established for signing agreements between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland does not prejudice the status of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Porter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the future constitutional relationship between Her Majesty's Government and the five remaining Caribbean dependent territories; and if he will make a statement. [9906]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
I refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) on 18 December, columns 676-77.
Mr. Meale:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 December 1996, Official Report, column 21, on the relocation of GCHQ, if he will supply the full terms of reference of the study into future accommodation, saying whether these exclude the relocation of any activities currently provided on the Cheltenham sites to (a) new and (b) existing sites outside Cheltenham. [11297]
Mr. Rifkind:
The terms of reference of the study team are to assess GCHQ's future requirements for accommodation and related services to support its Cheltenham-based personnel, and the issues associated with achieving single site working. The study is intended to lead to a decision on the feasibility and scope of potential private finance initiative solutions to these requirements. Assuming that a single site solution were feasible, one which involved relocation of the Cheltenham-based personnel outside Gloucesterhsire is unlikely to be justifiable on economic grounds.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of his talks with Mr. Guido Di Tella and the Argentine delegation at Chevening on 11 and 12 January. [11450]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor:
The talks at Chevening on 10 and 11 January covered UK-Argentine relations, including the Falklands. The discussions were held on the basis that the UK is not prepared to transfer or share sovereignty over the Falklands. We reiterated that this will remain the UK position. It was agreed that there should be early resumption of full negotiations for a fisheries agreement covering all aspects of the south Atlantic.