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European Institutions (Running Costs)
Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his current estimate of the annual running costs of (a) the European Commission, (b) the European Parliament, (c) the European Court of Justice and (d) other EU institutions.[15727]
Mr. David Davis: The running costs of EU institutions in 1995, 1996 and 1997 are as follows:
All figures are commitments in mecu and are rounded to the nearest 0.1 mecu. The 1995 figures are taken from the Court of Auditors annual report concerning the financial year 1995. The 1996 and 1997 figures have been taken from the general budget of the European Union for these years.
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UN Rapid Deployment Brigade
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the joint appeal by the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands for the creation of a UN rapid deployment brigade; and if he will make a statement.[15825]
Sir Nicholas Bonsor: We welcome this initiative. We are, however, concerned that earmarking specific troops for the proposed force would place restrictions on our ability to provide the most appropriate UK contribution in a particular UN operation. We would also be concerned about the possible effect on our other operational responsibilities.
We support the UN Secretary-General's standby force planning arrangements, under which UN member states declare the forces and assets they are prepared to provide on a case-by-case basis. We have provided the UN secretariat with detailed information on UK forces we might make available, and have encouraged others to do the same.
Sudan
Mr. Chris Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to assist the combatant parties in Sudan to reach a negotiated settlement which provides for self-determination for the southern population; what measures he has taken to date to assist the peace process; and if he will make a statement. [15794]
Mr. Hanley: We have fully supported the peace initiative of the intergovernmental authority for development. The declaration of principles produced under that initiative included the right of self-determination for southern Sudan. In our frequent contacts with the parties, we continue to urge a negotiated end to the war.
Israel
Sir Cyril Townsend: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of Israel's compliance with the EU-Israel association agreement. [16110]
Mr. Hanley:
The EU-Israel association agreement is not yet in force. When it is in force, the association committee to be established under article 70 and to be made up of officials representing both parties will be responsible for the implementation of the agreement. Any major issues arising under the agreement will be examined by the association council to be established
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under article 67 with representatives from both parties which will meet at ministerial level. It has the power to take decisions binding on the parties for the purpose of attaining the objectives of the agreement.
Sir Cyril Townsend:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compliance of the Israeli authorities with the EU's Dublin declaration relating to the immediate lifting of the blockade in Palestine. [16123]
Mr. Hanley:
There has been some increase in the number of permits available for Palestinians to work in Israel. We will continue to press for freer passage for Palestinian goods. We welcome the parties' renewed commitment to tackle outstanding issues from the interim agreement, such as the opening of Gaza airport and the construction of Gaza port. With our full backing, the EU special envoy to the peace process has begun a constructive dialogue with both sides on how to remove the remaining problems.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with the Government of China concerning their contributions to global warming; and if he will make a statement. [15946]
Dr. Liam Fox:
We are in regular discussion with all countries, including China, which are part of the negotiating process to mitigate climate change under the framework convention on climate change. We have urged all countries to contribute to a successful outcome to the third conference of the parties at Kyoto in December, and have proposed that developed countries should take the lead by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 5 to 10 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.
Terrorism
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been (a) murdered and (b) injured in (i) Roman Catholic and (ii) Protestant places of worship by terrorists in Northern Ireland since 1968.[13848]
Sir John Wheeler: The information regarding murders is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The information requested on injuries is not available.
Mr. Beggs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Roman Catholic maintained schools, (b) Roman Catholic churches, (c) controlled schools, (d) Protestant church properties and (e) Orange halls have been attacked in each year since 1968 in Northern Ireland. [13846]
Sir John Wheeler:
The information is not held in precisely the format requested and is not available for the full period requested.
The information that is available is as follows:
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Sir John Wheeler:
The information requested is not available.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if any of the birds involved in the recent outbreak of Newcastle disease had been given the vaccine prior to contamination; and if he will make a statement. [13606]
Mr. Ancram
[holding answer 31 January 1997]: None of the birds involved in the recent outbreak of Newcastle disease in Northern Ireland had been given vaccine prior to becoming infected with the disease.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of (a) chickens and (b) turkeys on farms in Northern Ireland are currently vaccinated against Newcastle disease; and if he will make a statement.[13603]
Mr. Ancram
[holding answer 31 January 1997]: Vaccination of poultry against Newcastle disease is normally prohibited in Northern Ireland.
Following an outbreak of the disease on a broiler production unit near Lurgan, County Armagh on 7 February 1997, ring vaccination has been carried out by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland within a 10 km zone of the infected premises: 52,000 chickens--0.35 per cent. of chickens in Northern Ireland--and 2,000 turkeys--0.50 per cent. of turkeys on farms in Northern Ireland--were vaccinated.
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current status of his Department's litigation against Arthur Andersen over the demise of DeLorean Motors. [14811]
Mr. Ancram:
The Department of Economic Development legal action against Arthur Andersen and Company in the US remains. The judge in the case has decided, following a hearing in New York on 28 and 29 October 1996, to dismiss the Department's
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federal law claims and transfer the common law claims to state court. The Department is considering whether to appeal this judgment.
Mr. Robert McCartney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many letters he has received concerning the proposed changes in gun laws; how many and what proportion (a) favoured and (b) did not favour the complete banning of handguns; and if he will make a statement about the time scale for his proposals as regards the law in Northern Ireland. [14837]
Sir John Wheeler:
To date a total of 96 letters has been received about the possible implications for Northern Ireland of the Government's proposals for firearms reform in Great Britain following Lord Cullen's report. Of these, two--2.8 per cent.--were in favour of and 90--93.75 per cent.--were opposed to a total ban on handguns. A further four letters were received which were of a simple inquiry nature. The Secretary of State has yet to decide what reforms he would like to see introduced but, on current plans, it remains his intention to have the amending legislation in place during the latter part of the 1997-98 parliamentary Session.
Mr. Beggs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Roman Catholic churches and (b) Protestant churches have closed in each year since 1968 because of terrorist attack in Northern Ireland.[13847]
1995: 39
1996: 60.
(b), (d) Attacks on Church Property
1994: 20
1995: 52
1996: 53.
(e) Attacks on Orange Halls
1990: 6
1991: 11
1992: 17
1993: 12
1994: 8
1995: 42
1996: 32.
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