8 Dec 1997 : Column: 403
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 8 December 1997
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Cigarettes
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee if he will take steps to discourage sales of House of Commons branded cigarettes. [18613]
Mr. Dennis Turner: It would be very unusual if a Chairman of the Catering Committee sought to discourage the sale and consumption of items sold as gifts and souvenirs from the Refreshment Department outlets. However, I accept fully that the situation with cigarettes is unique. In the previous Parliament I understand that the view of the Committee was that for as long as the smoking of tobacco products was legal, it was acceptable for the Department's outlets to sell cigarettes. My Committee will consider this subject in due course, and no doubt hon. Members will make representations about it.
Westminster Hall Cafeteria
Mrs. Gordon: To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee if he will allow participants of guided tours to use Westminster Hall Cafeteria; and if he make a statement. [18719]
Mr. Dennis Turner: On 12 July 1994, the House approved the First Report of Session 1992-93 from the previous Catering Committee, "Refreshment provision for line of route visitors". One recommendation was that the area currently occupied by the Westminster Hall Cafeteria should be converted to a visitor centre, which would provide light refreshments and toilet facilities for the public, but that this should take place only once a suitable alternative has been found for the present lunchtime users.
Initial discussions between Officials have been held regarding the proposed nature of a visitor centre, and their proposals will be put before my Committee by Easter 1998. However, I do have to advise my hon. Friend that in excess of 500 people, mainly staff, have lunch daily in the Westminster Hall Cafeteria; the other outlets currently available to staff would not be able to accommodate the extra customers if the Westminster Hall Cafeteria was closed before the opening of the new Cafeteria in Portcullis House, which I understand, will not be until 2001. Therefore, it will not be possible to open a visitor centre before then.
Blood Donor Sessions
Mrs. Gordon: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if she will arrange for regular blood donor sessions to be held within the Palace of Westminster. [18720]
Mrs. Roe:
The North London Blood Transfusion Service operates a two day clinic very near the House in HM Treasury or the Cabinet Office once every six
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months, when arrangements are made for hon. Members, their staff and staff of the House who wish to do so to give blood.
Both a lack of space and an insufficient donor base preclude holding a dedicated clinic on the Parliamentary Estate.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many car parking spaces are provided for (a) ministers, (b) hon. Members, (c) employees and (d) visitors in the House of Commons car parks. [19458]
Mrs. Roe:
Details of the number of car park spaces, and who is entitled to use them, are given in the Serjeant at Arms leaflet "Car Parking" dated Spring 1997. I have asked for a copy to be sent to the hon. Gentleman.
Mr. Levitt:
To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee (1) what the procedures are by which a deaf member of the public can be provided with sign language interpretation of the proceedings of the House within the Strangers Gallery; [18955]
Mrs. Roe:
Portable induction loops can be provided on request to the Serjeant at Arms Office. Forty eight hours notice should be given whenever possible. The House does not provide sign language interpreters; however, arrangements are made for interpreters accompanying deaf members of the public to operate from a suitable place in the Gallery.
Mr. Levitt:
To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will list those publicly accessible rooms within the Palace of Westminster and associated buildings which are fitted with an induction loop to assist persons who wear hearing aids. [18957]
Sir. Sydney Chapman:
The Accommodation and Works Committee has responsibility only for those areas of the parliamentary estate administered by the House of Commons. There are no publicly accessible rooms in outbuildings administered by the House of Commons which are fitted with induction loops. Induction loops are installed in the following places within the Palace of Westminster administered by the House of Commons:
8 Dec 1997 : Column: 405(2) what the procedures are by which a member may be provided with (a) a sign language interpreter and (b) a portable induction loop in order to facilitate communication with deaf or hard of hearing visitors to the Palace of Westminster and associated buildings. [18956]
The House of Commons Chamber--the floor and galleries;
All Committee Rooms administered by the House of Commons, with the exception of Nos. 7, 13 and 16;
The Grand Committee Room.
Visas (India and Pakistan)
Ms Jenny Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for visitors' visas to the United Kingdom were received between January and October at the posts in (a) Bombay and (b) Islamabad; and how many of these applications were refused. [18667]
Mr. Fatchett: Between January and October there were 53,059 applications in Bombay to visit the UK, of which 3,742 were refused; and 22,645 applications in Islamabad, of which 4,044 were refused.
Correspondence
Sir Archie Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons he has not replied to the letter from the right hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell of 1 July concerning his constituent Mr. Ramik Shah. [18884]
Mr. Fatchett: The right hon. Member's letter of 1 July was passed to the Home Office for reply since the question of special vouchers falls within its remit. I understand that a Home Office Minister will be replying shortly under file reference IMG/97 366/1205/1.
Tibet
Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise the conditions of the Tibetan people with the Chinese Government; and if he will make a statement. [19014]
Mr. Faber: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of China concerning human rights in Tibet. [19341]
Mr. Fatchett: We are deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Tibet. We take every opportunity to raise the issue of human rights with the Chinese authorities, both nationally and with our European Union partners. Both my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I did so most recently when we met the Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister in London between 3 November and 6 November.
China and Tibet
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will promote talks between the Chinese authorities and the Tibetan Government-in-exile during the United Kingdom EU Presidency, and encourage the European Union to host such talks. [18743]
Mr. Fatchett [holding answer 5 December 1997]: In our dialogues with China, both bilateral and at EU level, we have sought to encourage talks between the Chinese Government and the Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama. We will continue to do so.
Nigeria
Mr. Faber:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the Vision 2010 project in Nigeria; and if he will make a statement. [19348]
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Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We are in regular contact with several members of the Vision 2010 Committee. Our High Commission in Nigeria attended the launch of the Vision 2010 report on 27 November. The Report sets out a blueprint for economic reform in Nigeria. We will be following closely the implementation of its recommendations.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will promote talks during the United Kingdom Presidency of the EU between the French and Algerian Governments and other European Union member states on abuses of human rights in Algeria. [18745]
Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 5 December 1997]: The EU already raises with the Algerian Government its concerns about allegations of human rights abuses. We will continue to monitor the situation closely during our Presidency of the EU.
Mr. Faber:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his statement in Jakarta on 29 August, what proposals he (a) has made and (b) plans to make to the Indonesian Government to provide assistance with police training. [19296]
Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 5 December 1997]: Detailed proposals are still being worked out; we shall make an announcement in due course.
Mr. Faber:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the lecture on modern policing methods by British police experts in Indonesia, announced in his statement in Jakarta on 29 August, took place; and where. [19297]
Mr. Fatchett
[holding answer 5 December 1997]: We have not yet finalised arrangements for the proposed lectures.
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