House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 27 Nov 1997 (pt 5)

Turkey

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Turkey concerning their military activity in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.[17833]

Mr. Doug Henderson [holding answer 26 November 1997]: I raised this issue with the Turkish Foreign Minister during my visit to Ankara on 14 October, and made further representations to him on 27 October. We have told the Turkish government that their involvement in the inter-factional Kurdish fighting in northern Iraq is not compatible with their role as a co-sponsor of the Ankara process of reconciliation.

General Pinochet

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings members of his Department have held with General Pinochet over the last three years. [17825]

Mr. Tony Lloyd [holding answer 26 November 1997]: There have been no meetings between members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and General Pinochet over the last three years. British Embassy staff in Santiago have attended several official state and military functions in Chile at which General Pinochet was also present, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army. No discussions took place between these staff and General Pinochet at these events.

EU General Affairs Council

Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the outcome of the General Affairs Council in Brussels on 24 and 25 November. [18542]

Mr. Doug Henderson: At the General Affairs Council in Brussels on 24-25 November, the nine A points in document 12483/97 were approved, and the European Parliament resolutions of 5-6 November in document 11487/97 were noted. The texts of both documents will be placed in the libraries of the House as soon as they become available.

Agenda 2000

Ministers held their first discussion of the report to the Luxembourg European Council in December on Agenda 2000. Ministers re-stated their positions on enlargement (with the majority still in favour of differentiation), future

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financing and policy reform. Discussion will continue, and we hope substantial progress will be made at the next meeting of the Council on 8 December.

Turkey

The Council discussed Turkey's participation in the European Conference and the Commission's proposals for strengthening relations with Turkey by building on the Customs Union. Most Member States expressed support in principle for both.

EC/Israel Trade Issues

The Council agreed that the EC/Israel Co-operation Committee with Israel on 28 November should address the issue of miscertification of goods from third countries under the EC/Israel Interim Association Agreement, notably orange juice.

Transatlantic relations

The Council took note of the preparations for the EU/US and EU/Canada Summits which will take place in Washington and Ottawa in December and agreed that the EU should agree a statement of general principles governing electronic commerce with the US. The Council also encouraged the Commission to continue its efforts to negotiate with the US an agreement to ban leg-hold traps.

Former Yugoslavia

The High Representative, Carlos Westendorp, briefed the Council on progress in peace implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Council also discussed the situation in the FRY in light of forthcoming Presidential elections in Serbia, expressing its concern at the authorities' failure to respect fundamental democratic principles.

Switzerland

The Council reiterated its wish to conclude bilateral sectoral negotiations with Switzerland but highlighted the outstanding problems in certain areas, including transport. The Council instructed COREPER to reconsider proposals to resolve this issue and called on the Swiss to exercise some flexibility in pursuit of their common objective.

Mid term review of Overseas Countries and Territories Decision

The mid-term review of the Decision on the association of Overseas Countries and Territories with the EU was formally agreed.

MEPP

Following discussions at the Foreign Ministers' dinner in the margins of the Special European Council on Employment on 20 November, the Council discussed developments in the Middle East peace process following the visit to the region by the President of the Council and Vice President Marin of the European Commission from 11-14 November. The Council confirmed the importance of close co-ordination with the US Administration, and that the Middle East peace process would be discussed at the 5 December EU/US Summit. The Council also reviewed the importance of EU aid to the Palestinians, and took note of the Commission's forthcoming communication on the programme.

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Russia: Preparation for first Co-operation Council

The Council emphasised the importance that the EU attaches to EU-Russia relations. In light of this, the Presidency asked Ministers to confirm whether they would be able to attend the inaugural Co-operation Council under the terms of the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) on 15 December (Primakov being unable to attend on 8 December as originally planned). If this is not possible, the Co-operation Council will fall to the UK Presidency. Preparations in the meantime would continue in COREPER.

EU-Jordan

The Association Agreement between the EU and Jordan was signed on 24 November by EU Foreign Ministers, the Commission and Crown Prince Hassan.

Yemen

The EC/Yemen agreement was signed on 25 November by the Commission and the Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister.

Afghanistan

The Council exchanged views on the conflict in Afghanistan and took note of the Conference of donors which will take place in New York on 3 December. The Council confirmed that the UN has the principal role and expressed its support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.

European Economic Area Council

The 8th Council of the European Economic Area (EEA) was held on 25 November. Ministers welcomed the continued development of the EEA. Conclusions were agreed which took stock of developments and looked forward to future work (Commission Press Release EEE 1608/97 Presse 368).

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European Council (Amsterdam)

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what time he left the European Council at Amsterdam. [18034]

Mr. Doug Henderson: The Fourth Session of the European Council Meeting in Amsterdam broke up at 0340 hours, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary left the closing Press Conference when it finished at about 0400 hours on Wednesday 18 June. He departed for the UK from Valkenburg Naval Air Base 1010 hours that same day.

Social Chapter

Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in Directorate General V of the European Commission are engaged in work relating to future Social Chapter legislation. [17070]

Mrs. Beckett [holding answer 24 November 1997]: I have been asked to reply.

This is a matter for the Commission. We do not keep this information.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

Publicity and Advertising

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the total expenditure on all forms of publicity and advertising by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for (i) 1993-94, (ii) 1994-95, (iii) 1995-96, (iv) 1996-97, (v) the 1997-98, year to date, (vi) 1997-98, full year estimate and (vii) the 1998-99 planned expenditure. [15233]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 11 November 1997]: Advertising and publicity expenditure by my Department for the years requested is as follows:

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£000s

DoE DoT VI HA DVLA DSA VCA MSA CA PI QE2

1993-94 12,227 8,275 18 -- 1,882 58 nil -- nil nil 209

1994-95 9,028 8,039 21 n/a 1,807 53 nil 104 241 nil 167

1995-96 7,670 8,356 40 546 2,171 67 8 63 297 16 167

1996-97 4,665 9,679 55 1,100 1,966 63 9 79 311 17 180

£000s

DETR VI HA DVLA DSA VCA MSA CA PI QE2

1997-98 to date 4,574 58 546 1,219 46 nil 65 214 17 52

1997-98 full year estimated outturn 13,725 111 1,300 3,584 111 5 100 280 17 196

	£000s
	DoE	DoT	VI	HA	DVLA	DSA	VCA	MSA	CA	PI	QE2
1993-94	12,227	8,275	18	--	1,882	58	nil	--	nil	nil	209
1994-95	9,028	8,039	21	n/a	1,807	53	nil	104	241	nil	167
1995-96	7,670	8,356	40	546	2,171	67	8	63	297	16	167
1996-97	4,665	9,679	55	1,100	1,966	63	9	79	311	17	180