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Wages
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many workers in the United Kingdom currently (a) earn under £8,000 per annum, (b) earn between £8,000 and £10,000 per annum, (c) earn between £10,000 and £12,000 per annum and (d) earn over £12,000 per annum. [61933]
Ms Hewitt: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
| Percentage with gross annual earnings | Full-time | Part-time | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than £8,000 | 6.3 | 76.4 | 23.2 |
| £8,000 to £10,000 | 8.1 | 8.6 | 8.2 |
| £10,000 to £12,000 | 11.2 | 5.1 | 9.7 |
| £12,000 or more | 74.4 | 9.9 | 58.9 |
Source:
New Earnings Survey, Office for National Statistics
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Agenda 2000
22. Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the completion of the Agenda 2000 proposals. [61401]
Ms Quin: At the Cardiff European Council in March this year, Heads of State or Government agreed that political agreement to the Agenda 2000 package should be reached no later than March 1999. Both Austria, who hold the Presidency now, and Germany, who will hold the Presidency for the first 6 months of 1999, have expressed their commitment to that timetable.
25. Mr. Watts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about progress on Agenda 2000. [61404]
1 Dec 1998 : Column: 158
Ms Quin:
Steady progress has been made in the past month or two. The Vienna European Council on 11-12 December will not take final decisions, but the Presidency are preparing a report identifying the key political issues that need to be resolved as part of the overall agreement, and also a compendium of negotiating texts reflecting the current state of discussion. Agreement no later than March 1999, in line with the Cardiff European Council conclusions, is achievable.
23. Mr. Illsley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will visit Canada to discuss the creation of the new territory of Nunavut. [61402]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We have no plans to visit Canada to discuss the creation of the new territory of Nunavut.
24. Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations; and what aspects of reform of United Nations finances were covered. [61403]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
In his address to the General Assembly on 23 September 1997, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary argued for reform of UN finances to put them on a sound and equitable basis. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told this year's General Assembly that all parts of the UN system needed secure funding.
26. Mr. Gapes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for regional and international security of recent Iranian tests of long- range missiles. [61405]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We were extremely concerned by Iran's flight test of its Shahab 3 ballistic missile in July. Although the system is still in its development phase, its approximate range of 1300km means that the possibility of its future deployment threatens the stability of the whole of the Middle East.
Whilst we understand Iran's legitimate security concerns, we have repeatedly urged the Iranian authorities to refrain from developing ballistic missiles. It is in nobody's interest for an arms race to develop in this already volatile region.
29. Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran on the funding of (a) Hezbollah and (b) Hamas. [61408]
Mr. Fatchett:
We and our EU colleagues have frequently raised with the Iranians our concerns about their support for groups who use violent methods to oppose the Middle East peace process, and will continue to do so.
However, during my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister on 24 September, Dr. Kharrazi reaffirmed his Government's
1 Dec 1998 : Column: 159
strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms. Iran has strongly condemned terrorist attacks in Egypt and Algeria and rejected attacks upon civilians anywhere. We welcome these positive developments.
27. Dr. Starkey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the Prime Minister of Israel to discuss the middle east peace process; and if he will make a statement. [61406]
Mr. Robin Cook:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn), Official Report, column 656.
28. Mrs. Fyfe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UK relations with Burma. [61407]
30. Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of Myanmar. [61410]
Mr. Fatchett:
We deplore the Burmese authorities' disregard for human rights and democracy. We are working for an end to these abuses and the start of substantive political dialogue with NLD, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and ethnic minority groups.
31. Mr. Love:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken to sponsor dialogue between the two communities in Cyprus. [61411]
Ms Quin:
We remain committed to supporting the UN Secretary-General's efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement in Cyprus through direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities.
We and international partners continue to promote activities at all levels which foster dialogue between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in Cyprus.
32. Mr. Pearson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Iraq's compliance with United Nations resolutions. [61412]
Mr. Fatchett:
It is the unanimous view of the Security Council that Iraq has not fulfilled its obligations under the relevant UN resolutions.
34. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his meeting with the 16 dissident Iraqi groups on 23 November. [61415]
Mr. Fatchett:
I met London representatives of various Iraqi opposition groups on 23 November.
1 Dec 1998 : Column: 160
33. Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in resolving the issue of the proposed trial in The Hague of the alleged Lockerbie suspects. [61413]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We have provided comprehensive clarification on issues raised by Libya through the UN on the terms of the initiative. These answers demonstrate that we are acting in good faith. We are in close touch with the UN Secretary-General, who is mandated by the UN Security Council resolutions to seek Libyan compliance. We now look to Libya for a prompt and positive response.
35. Ms Oona King:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [61416]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Britain is working hard for peace. We are actively encouraging all states involved in the fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo to pursue a negotiated settlement. We have made it clear that there can be no military solution. Only a process of dialogue and negotiation can bring about a settlement that will last.
36. Mr. Bill O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current relations between China and the United Kingdom. [61418]
Mr. Fatchett:
As the visit to China of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in October demonstrated, a new chapter has opened in our bilateral relations. We are working for a broader relationship, including increased political, commercial, educational and cultural contacts. We will continue to address difficult subjects, such as human rights, through an approach based on dialogue.
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