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Prisoners of War
33. Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the representations made by him over compensation for former British prisoners of war held by the Japanese. [5762]
Mr. Fatchett:
I refer the hon. member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson) gave to the hon. member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on 24 June, Official Report, column 462.
8 Jul 1997 : Column: 419
Mr. Mullin:
To ask the Secretary of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial reduction has been imposed on the BBC World Service over and above those required by the reduction in Foreign Office funding; and if he will make a statement. [5833]
Mr. Fatchett:
There have been no additional financial cuts. The restructuring is the responsibility of the BBC. This Department is monitoring its implementation particularly with regard to the special character, style, ethos and quality of the World Service.
Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proof is required of a parent, resident in the United Kingdom and a United Kingdom national, that children, living abroad, whom they wish to bring into the country, are their natural children in the absence of a marriage certificate or birth certificate from the country of residence. [5053]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 1 July 1997]: In cases where documentary evidence satisfactorily establishing the identity of children seeking to join parents who are British citizens or UK residents is not available, Entry Clearance Officers have the option to interview the sponsor and applicants to try and establish their relationship. If such an interview proves inconclusive, the Entry Clearance Officer can invite the applicants and the sponsor to take a free DNA test under the government-funded scheme. The DNA test will satisfactorily establish the relationship between applicant and sponsor.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates and attendees by Department and grade of meetings of officials which have taken place in his Department on the Strategic Defence Review. [6762]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
This Department's officials have attended a number of meetings in the FCO on the Strategic Defence Review. On 3 July my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs held a seminar in the FCO on the Strategic Defence Review with academics and other commentators. We do not keep records of dates and the participants of all meetings attended by officials within this Department.
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the responsibility for the Defence Review will be divided between his Department and the Ministry of Defence; and what the arrangements will be for his Department's involvement. [7062]
Mr. Lloyd:
The first phase of the Strategic Defence Review to establish the policy baseline, is being conducted jointly by the MOD and this Department.
The MOD will lead the subsequent work, with continued involvement from this Department to assess roles, missions and capabilities required and the implications for equipment and support.
8 Jul 1997 : Column: 420
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's timetable for dealing with the Year 2000 Computer Problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the projected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7144]
Mr. Fatchett:
In accordance with central directives, this Department will submit costed Year 2000 plans to the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA) by October 1997. This Department is replacing Office Automation (OA) systems, thus avoiding some Year 2000 problems, and addressing other systems through its millennium programme. All major systems will be compliant by March 1999. This Department's Director of General Services is overseeing the work. Fourteen staff are currently working on the programme. This will increase. Our current cost estimate is £3 million (excluding OA replacements). We are on schedule.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the efforts being made by the Government to encourage improvement in China's human rights record. [7249]
Mr. Fatchett:
The human rights situation in China is a matter of deep concern. We take every opportunity to raise the issue with the Chinese authorities. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs did so most recently when he met the Chinese Foreign Minister in Hong Kong on 30 June. We are looking for a constructive way forward, both bilaterally and with our EU partners, that will bring about real progress.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet the Commander in Chief of the Indonesian armed forces. [6053]
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to report to the House the findings of the internal Foreign Office investigation into the use of British-supplied water cannons in Indonesia on 12 February 1997. [6054]
Mr. Fatchett:
We are not aware of any such incident on 12 February.
Mr. Gapes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. [5725]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Arrangements for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Edinburgh in October are progressing well. We are working closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the
8 Jul 1997 : Column: 421
Scottish Office and local police authorities in Scotland to ensure a successful meeting, which will serve the Government's aim of strengthening the Commonwealth.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the consequences for Gibraltar of the Amsterdam summit. [5726]
Mr. Doug Henderson:
I believe that the agreement reached at Amsterdam fully protects UK and Gibraltar's interests.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the date and title of the oldest document or archival unit retained by his Department which has not been passed on to the Public Record Office for release for public inspection. [7204]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The oldest papers withheld by this Department from release at the Public Record Office are some papers from Dublin Castle records in a register concerning judicial proceedings dated 1911-15 (File reference CO 904/36). These papers are being reviewed for release. My Noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will write to my hon. Friend when the outcome of this review is complete and place a copy of the letter in the libraries of the House.
Mr. Dawson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take in respect of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. [7264]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Ministers are currently considering the issue of UK accession to UNCLOS. The House will be informed as soon as a decision has been made.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Eurofighter aircraft will be purchased in the United Kingdom. [6765]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) on 26 June, Official Report, column 627.
Mr. Collins:
To ask the Secretary of State for defence what representations he has received concerning the size of the defence budget. [6424]
Dr. Reid:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has received a number of enquiries about the defence budget both from Members of this House and from others. Many of these enquiries have been framed in the context of the Strategic Defence Review.
8 Jul 1997 : Column: 422
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will include submissions from the Labour Party Working Group on Defence in the Strategic Defence Review. [6843]
Dr. Reid:
All outside inputs to the Strategic Defence Review will be taken into consideration as part of the Review process.
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