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Visas

Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many requests he and his Ministers have received from hon. Members since 1 May 1997 to discuss general issues of entry clearance and visas; and how many of these were responded to within (a) one week, (b) two weeks, (c) one month, (d) three months and (e) over three months. [13882]

Mr. Fatchett: To provide the information requested would involve disproportionate cost.

European Union

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for November; and list major European Union events for the next six months. [14287]

3 Nov 1997 : Column: 12

Mr. Doug Henderson: This is the monthly forecast of business for November 1997. The following Councils are scheduled:

VenueEvent
3 NovemberBrusselsConsumer Council
5 NovemberBrusselsEcofin Council
10 NovemberBrusselsResearch Council
10 NovemberBrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
13 NovemberBrusselsIndustry Council
17-18 NovemberBrusselsAgriculture Council
19 NovemberBrusselsFisheries Council (tbc)
20 NovemberBrusselsEducation Council
24 NovemberBrusselsCulture Council
24-25 NovemberBrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
27 NovemberBrusselsBudget Council
27 NovemberBrusselsInternal Market Council
28 NovemberBrusselsDevelopment Council

The following subjects are likely to be discussed:


















    6 November: Social Affairs Council


    Preparation for the European Council on Employment: 21 November


    10 November: Research Council


    Adoption of the agenda.


    Approval of the list of A Items (possible item).


    Fifth Research Technology Development (RTD) Framework Programme: Discussion to identify Policy guidelines: Criteria.


    Scientific and Technological objectives and content.


    General objectives and Thematic Programmes.


    Horizontal theme: International cooperation.


    Horizontal theme: Innovation and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).


    Horizontal theme: Improving human research potential and the Knowledge Base.


    Structure.


    Arrangements for financial participation.


    Fifth Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Committee (EAEC) for research and training activities:


    Policy debate.


    Nuclear Fusion.


    Controlled Thermo-nuclear Fusion.


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3 Nov 1997 : Column: 14



Commission Recommendation of 22 April 1997 on improving and simplifying the environment for business start-ups. Communication by the Commission: European Capital Markets SMEs: prospects and potential obstacles to progress: Presentation by the Commission

















Iran

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current UK-Iran diplomatic relations. [13727]

Mr. Fatchett: Britain and Iran usually have fifteen full-time diplomatic staff in each other's capitals. Both Embassies are normally headed by a Charge d'Affaires. However, after the Mykonos verdict in April, both the British and Iranian Charges were temporarily withdrawn. Both Embassies are currently headed by acting Charge d'Affaires.

European Movement

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what public funding has been made available to the European Movement in the current financial year. [14089]

Mr. Doug Henderson: No Government funding has been made available to the European Movement in the current financial year.

Correspondence

Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department will reply to the hon. Member's letters of 22 September relating to Nasreen Akhtar (ref. GV100/35962), Mohammed Arif (ref. IMM/D6517) and Gurmail Kaur (ref. GV100/39454) and of 23 September relating to Sikander Mahmood (ref. GV100/39978). [13886]

Mr. Fatchett: Replies were sent to the hon. Member's letters of 22 September on 26 October with reference to cases GV100/41057 and GV100/39454 and on 29 October with reference to case GV100 39454. Further information

3 Nov 1997 : Column: 15

is awaited from Islamabad on case GV100/35962 and the hon. Member will be sent a reply as soon as that information is received.

Burma

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports the Government have received relating to the treatment of the Karen people by the Burma military Government; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on this issue. [13887]

Mr. Fatchett: We are deeply concerned by human rights abuses against Karen and other ethnic minorities in Burma. We have received reports of torture, rapes, killings, forced conscription and relocations of villagers. We have strongly protested to the Burmese authorities in Rangoon and London. We continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Burmese refugees in Thailand.

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