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Timber Products

Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action has been taken to implement the recommendations of the Forest Stewardship Council in respect of standards for the sustainability of timber products. [15485]

Mr. Kynoch: The Forestry Commission is consulting widely on a draft UK forestry standard and will take account of the Forest Stewardship Council's views.

Sinclair Gardens, Bishopbriggs

Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the date for the public inquiry into the pathway closure at Sinclair gardens in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow. [15698]

Mr. Kynoch: My right hon. Friend has not been asked to confirm an order extinguishing the right of way over a path at Sinclair gardens in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow. If such a request is made by East Dunbartonshire council consideration will be given to the need for a public inquiry.

BSE (Cattle Cull)

Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's search for cattle associated with BSE cases to be culled under the terms of the Florence agreement; how many cattle have been identified so far; what is his latest estimate of the likely total; how many farms are involved; and what is his estimate of the time scale for completing this search and concluding the accelerated cull. [16318]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: On-farm visits to natal herds, in which a confirmed case of BSE was born, started in the week beginning 27 January. So far, the total number of Scottish cattle that have been identified through these visits as having been exposed to the same feed as BSE cases is 286. Of this number, 49 animals have so far been confirmed as exposed by the central veterinary unit, all of which have moved out of the natal herd and need to be traced further. The latest estimate of the number of cattle affected in Great Britain is 90,000 to 100,000, of which around 4,300 may be in Scotland. However, the true number of animals affected can be determined only by on-farm visits.

Around 300 farms in Scotland have herds in which a confirmed case of BSE was born. Farms which have bought in exposed animals will also be affected. Again, the number of such farms can only be established through the visits to the natal herds, and subsequent tracing visits.

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It is very difficult at this early stage to estimate the length of time it will take to conclude the cull.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Kashmir

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to and what reports he has received from the authorities in (a) Kashmir and (b) India concerning the hostage Paul Wells. [16226]

Sir Nicholas Bonsor: Mr right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the kidnapping of Paul Wells and Keith Mangan with his Indian and Pakistani counterparts during his January visits. We remain deeply troubled that there has been no confirmed news of the two men since August 1995. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made our concern clear and obtained assurances of all possible assistance in finding out what has happened to the men. He has since written to their families. The Foreign Office consular division will keep them fully informed of any developments.

We are in touch with the Indian authorities, and with the Chief Minister of Kashmir. The diplomatic missions of the UK, USA, Germany and Norway also follow closely the investigation undertaken by the Jammu and Kashmir police.

Israel

Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms of scrutiny the Government propose to put forward to (a) the European Commission and (b) other EU bodies in relation to article 2 of the EU-Israel association agreement; and if he will take steps to ensure these mechanisms are sufficiently transparent to allow assessment of the operation and effect of the human rights clause in the association agreement. [16191]

Mr. Hanley: Heads of diplomatic missions of EU member states in Israel and the occupied territories, as in other countries, continually monitor the human rights situation and send regular reports to the EU Presidency, which are seen by all Member State governments. This includes reporting in connection with the association agreements. The EU-Israel association agreement will establish a political dialogue which will allow the EU to raise human rights issues more effectively with the Israeli Government. The association council set up under the agreement will examine any major issues arising under the agreement.

Mr. Gunnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Israel's compliance with articles 1 and 38 of the EU-Israel interim agreement on trade and trade-related matters. [16325]

Mr. Hanley: Article 1 of the agreement concerns respect for human rights and democratic principles. We and the EU regularly raise these important matters with the Israeli Government. Article 38 is about the territories to which the agreement applies: as it applies to the territory of the state of Israel, it would not include the

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occupied territories. The question of whether Israel would be in breach of the agreement by certifying goods produced in the occupied territories as produced in Israel is a matter for the Commission.

Mr. Gunnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has received from Israel in respect of its compliance with articles 1 and 38 of the EU-Israel association agreement once Parliament has ratified that agreement. [16326]

Mr. Hanley: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer. Articles 1 and 38 in the interim agreement are equivalent to articles 2 and 83 in the association agreement. We have received no assurances bilaterally from Israel on this agreement, which is between Israel and the EU.

South Africa

Sir Cranley Onslow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what travel advice his Department provides for travellers visiting South Africa. [15898]

Dr Liam Fox: The current travel advice for South Africa, issued on 7 February 1997, states:

Incidents of armed attack, mugging and car hijacking are common, both during daylight hours and at night. The level of violent crime is high, particularly in the Johannesburg area. The murder rate is high and victims in recent months have included a number of foreigners. Care is required in all major cities. Isolated areas should be avoided. Drivers should park in well-lit areas and never pick up strangers. It is inadvisable to wear expensive jewellery or carry cameras when walking in urban areas. The minimum of cash should be carried. Townships and surrounding areas should be avoided.

If staying in an hotel, seek the advice of the management about which areas should be avoided. Visitors should contact the British High Commission/Consulate for further guidance. British High Commission Pretoria; [phone]; British Consulate General Johannesburg; [phone]; British Consulate Cape Town; [phone]; British Consulate Durban; [phone]; British Consulate East London; (0431) 54 430; British Consulate Port Elizabeth; (041) 55 2423.

China

Mr. Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government concerning the treatment of political prisoners. [16327]

Mr. Hanley: We regularly raise our concerns on human rights, including the treatment of political prisoners, with the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally and through the European Union. My right hon. and learned Friend and Foreign Secretary did so most recently during his talks with Qian Qichen in Singapore on 14 February.

Mr. Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government concerning Ngawang Choephel's imprisonment in Sangyip. [16328]

Mr. Hanley: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) on 3 February 1997, Official Report, column 504.

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Mr. Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government concerning conditions at Sangyip. [16329]

Mr. Hanley: We have not made any specific representations to the Chinese Government concerning conditions at Sangyip prison. However, my right hon. and learned Friend and the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about Tibet with the Chinese Foreign Minister when they met in Singapore on 14 February.

PRIME MINISTER

Engagements

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 18 February. [15113]

Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 18 February. [15114]

The Prime Minister: This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

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