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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Ascension Island
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the bulk oil storage arrangements for the Ascension Island. [75638]
Mr. Doug Henderson: I have been asked to reply.
The present bulk fuel storage arrangements at Ascension Island are provided by the MV Maersk Ascension. Following a review of strategic fuel holdings on Ascension Island, my Department is considering the optimum arrangements for the future storage of fuel stocks.
Gibraltar
Mr. Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations and at what level have been made to (a) the Government of Spain and (b) the European Commission in respect of the obstruction by the Government of Spain of free movement between Spain and Gibraltar. [76065]
Ms Quin: We have raised the border delays between Gibraltar and Spain on several occasions. In the last month, the Prime Minister has discussed the problem twice with Sr Aznar. The Foreign Secretary has done so twice with his Spanish counterpart. The Ambassador in Madrid has also raised the issue several times with the Spanish authorities, including with Sr Matutes. The UK Permanent Representative to the European Union has also written both to the President of the European Commission and to his Chef de Cabinet informing them of Spanish actions.
China (Human Rights)
Mr. Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom intends to sponsor a resolution on China's human rights record at the forthcoming meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. [76066]
Mr. Fatchett: We are discussing with our EU partners our policy on China at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
Congo-Brazzaville
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions exist on the purchasing or moving of arms directly or indirectly through agents, or other parties in the United Kingdom or its overseas territories by those seeking to overthrow the current regime in Congo-Brazzaville. [76138]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
There is no UN or EU arms embargo in place against Congo-Brazzaville. However, irrespective of the intended destination, all applications for an individual licence to export from the UK arms or other military equipment entered in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, are considered against the criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26-29, and the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, adopted on 8 June. At present, as noted in the
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Government's White Paper on Strategic Export Controls, published in July 1998, HMG can control trafficking and brokering only where this is necessary to implement a binding UN resolution. However, the White Paper proposed the extension of the controls on trafficking and brokering in several areas, including to countries subject to other types of embargo, eg imposed as a result of non-binding UN resolutions or EU or OSCE decisions or nationally.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to the restoration to power in Congo-Brazzaville of Pascal Lissouba. [76139]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The UK wishes to see the initiation of an inclusive political process in Congo-Brazzaville. This would allow reconciliation and the return of all parties, including Pascal Lissouba, to participate in national reconstruction. We have urged all parties to the conflict to show restraint, and fully support UN Security Council Resolution 867 (1997) which calls for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Congo-Brazzaville.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings or communications Foreign Office Ministers or officials have had with Pascal Lissouba since he commenced his exile from Congo-Brazzaville. [76141]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
No Foreign Office Minister has met Pascal Lissouba since his exile. FCO officials met him on 20 April and 26 June 1998 and on 10 March 1999 to hear his views on the situation on Congo-Brazzaville.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if ex-President Lissouba has been issued with documents or letters of support from Her Majesty's Government supporting or facilitating his return to office; and if he will make a statement. [76142]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
On 9 November 1998, ex-President Lissouba wrote to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister requesting support. In a reply on 28 November 1998, a No. 10 official reaffirmed HMG's hopes that a process of political reconciliation would be initiated in Congo- Brazzaville, noted that this would allow all parties to return to participate in a project of national reconstruction and also urged all sides to exercise restraint.
I am placing a copy of this letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Soames:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he proposes to answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex on 22 February (ref. 72965) relating to the use of Chevening; [76039]
Mr. Robin Cook:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 March 1999, Official Report, columns 178-79.
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Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement anent waiting lists in (a) Inverclyde and (b) Scotland as a whole. [69797]
Mr. Galbraith:
On 31 December 1998, the number of patients waiting for inpatient and day case treatment at Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust was 2,083. On that date, the number of patients on the inpatient/day case waiting list in Scotland was 78,526, a reduction of 7.5 per cent. on the position at 30 September 1998.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr. David Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many loans to students have been made by the Student Loans Board (Scotland); what is the total value of the loans; how many (a) have been fully repaid, indicating the total sum repaid, (b) are in the process of being repaid, indicating the total sum so far repaid and (c) have made no repayment, indicating the total sum involved. [74405]
Mrs. Liddell
[holding answer 9 March 1999]: The Student Loans Company Limited administers student loans for all UK students. The Scottish funding of loans and share of loan receipts is based on a notional split of the UK total which is approximately 11 per cent. The information is set out in the tables in respect of that proportion of the UK total which is deemed to be attributable to Scottish students studying throughout the UK.
(2) when he proposes to answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex on 23 February (ref. 73515) relating to Chevening. [76038]
| Number/Value | |
|---|---|
| Number of loans issued | 442,879 |
| Value of loans issued | £423 million |
It is not possible to disaggregate the repayments attributable to these loans from the total repayments shown in tables 1b and 1c.
1a. Number of loans fully repaid and the total sum repaid.
Number of loans fully repaid: 13,069.
| Number/Value | |
|---|---|
| Accounts in repayment | 36,681 |
| Total sum repaid | £35 million |
| Amount/Value | |
|---|---|
| Number of loans due to repay where no repayment received | 2,937 |
| Amount outstanding | £1.54 million |
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Universities (Drop-out Rate)
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the drop-out rate at Scottish universities in each year between 1995-96 and 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement. [74560]
Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 4 March 1999]: There are no reliable estimates of the drop-out rate at Scottish universities available. However, methods are being developed to measure progression as part of the current work on Performance Indicators. The first information on progression will be published this summer.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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