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European Commission (School Packs)
Sir Richard Body: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria determine the material included in school packs sent out by the European Commission Office in London; and in what circumstances external bodies may submit material for distribution via the European Commission Office. [4908]
Mr. Doug Henderson: This is a matter for the European Commission.
European Union (Public Image)
Sir Richard Body: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money was spent on programmes designed to improve the public image of (a) the European Union and (b) the Single Currency in 1996; and if he will list the projects involved. [4909]
Mr. Doug Henderson: On the basis that the question is referring to expenditure from the EC budget, a total of 113 million ecu was committed in 1996 for information and communication activities under Title B3-3. Of this, 50 million ecu was spent on Budget line B3-306, which covers a number of specific information programmes, including to publicise the euro.
The EC Budget sets out Commission spending on information activities by broad categories (or Budget lines) within Title B3-3. Details of the individual projects funded from these lines are not published in consolidated form by the Commission.
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Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the cases at the International Court of Justice to which the United Kingdom has been a party since 1967, to which the Montevideo convention on the Rights and Duties of States applied. [5007]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
There have been no such cases.
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which representatives he has met of former prisoners of war of the Japanese; and what discussions he has had with representatives of the Japanese Government in regard to compensation to such former prisoners of war; and if he will make a statement. [5078]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 June at column 86 to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) by the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs invited representatives of the former prisoners of war and civilian internees to a meeting which took place on 3 June.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the strong feelings held by many in this country about the former prisoners of war with the Japanese Foreign Minister when they met on 21 June. We will continue to maintain close contact with the Japanese Government on this issue.
Mr. Letwin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the export of arms to Indonesia. [4996]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 22 May at column 135 an urgent review of the detailed criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms worldwide. Countries will be judged against the new criteria.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the government of Saudi Arabia concerning human rights; and if he will make a statement. [4765]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed human rights, among other matters, with the Saudi Ambassador on 21 May. We look forward to having a more thorough discussion with the Government of Saudi Arabia at the earliest opportunity on this and a wide range of other issues of interest to us.
Gillian Merron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serious offences were committed in the United Kingdom in 1996
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by persons entitled to immunity; and how many foreign diplomats or members of their families were withdrawn from their posts in the United Kingdom in the past year as a result of alleged offences. [5551]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
From a diplomatic community of over 17,000 persons, thirty four alleged serious offences by persons entitled to immunity were drawn to the attention of this Department in 1996. "Serious Offences" are defined in accordance with the Report to the Foreign Affairs Committee "The Abuse of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges (1985)" as offences which fall into the category which in certain circumstances attract a maximum penalty of 6 months imprisonment or more: the majority involved drinking and driving and shoplifting.
Six diplomats or members of their families were withdrawn at this Department's request from posts in the United Kingdom as a result of alleged offences, compared with five the previous year.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he proposes to make in his Department's cash limits and running cost limits for 1997-98. [5552]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the following changes will be made.
The cash limit for Class II, Vote 1 (Overseas Representation) will be increased by £225,000 from £619,601,00 to £619,826,000. The increase is required to take in a transfer of £225,000 (Other Current Expenditure) from the Cabinet Office for costs incurred on their behalf.
The gross running costs limit on Class II, Vote 1 will be increased by £3,250,000 from £524,020,000 to £527,270,000.
There is a requirement to provide for new costs and income associated with the Hong Kong Ethnic Minorities Citizens Unit and increased visa costs and income associated with new regimes in Colombia and Ecuador. All increases in provision will be fully offset by extra receipts, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the projects supported by Britain in Malawi in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement on aid to Malawi. [5016]
Mr. Foulkes:
I am placing in the Library of the House a list of projects supported under the bilateral aid programme to Malawi between 1992-93 and 1996-97. A Country Aid Policy Statement for Malawi was produced in 1995. In 1995 Britain provided to Malawi about £30 million in bilateral aid and £8 million through the European Community. My right hon. Friend the Secretary
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of State for International Development has recently approved £15 million in programme aid to help Malawi pay teachers' salaries.
Mr. Cranston:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made with the White Paper on International Development. [5554]
Ms Short:
It remains our intention to publish a White Paper on International Development in the Autumn. A process of widespread consultation is underway. I am delighted that there is to be a debate on International Development policies on Tuesday 1 July, during which hon. Members will have an opportunity to feed their thoughts and ideas into the Paper.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will take measures to ensure that the Church of England Pensions Board responds to the letter from the Parish Protection Board, dated 7 November 1996; if he will place a copy of the reply in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [4496]
Mr. Stuart Bell:
This is not a matter for the Church Commissioners; it is a matter for the Church of England Pensions Board. I understand, however, that a reply was sent to the Parishes Protection Group on 18 February 1997, after consideration at a meeting of the full Pensions Board (No. 4496 in the Order Paper dated 17 June).
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of adult (a) men and (b) women in Scotland are cigarette smokers in each 10 year age band; and if he will make a statement. [4761]
Mr. Galbraith:
The estimated number and percentage of adult men and women cigarette smokers in Scotland in 1994 are provided below.
1. The percentage of cigarette smokers has been calculated from the 1994 General Household Survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics.
2. The number of smokers has been estimated using Registrar General for Scotland mid-year population estimates as at 30 June 1994, and the percentage of smokers.
3. Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole figure. The estimates of the number of smokers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
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