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Written Answers
Thursday, 14th November 1996.
Turkey: Oil Imports from Iraq
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they construe paragraph 2 of Security Council Resolution 986, which authorises Turkey "to permit the import of petroleum and petroleum products originating in Iraq sufficient...to meet the pipeline tariff charges...", to mean all such petroleum and petroleum products and, if any imports are to be excluded from the calculation, under what provision this was approved by the Security Council.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey): We interpret paragraph 2 of UN Security Council Resolution 986 (1995) to mean that Turkey can import petroleum and petroleum products originating in Iraq sufficient to meet the pipeline tariff charges for the transport of Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products. Paragraph 6 of SCR 986 further states that the export of all the above-mentioned petroleum and petroleum products from Iraq will be shipped either via the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline or from the Mina al-Bakr oil terminal. The Security Council has not approved any other means of exporting oil from Iraq.
State Visits
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any Heads of State from countries which have been in multiple and long-standing breach of international law have paid State visits to this country and, if so, which.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: State visits take place on average twice a year and are an important aspect of bilateral relations. Concerns about any matters, including observance of international law by the country concerned, may be raised during a State visit.
Weapons Exports to Israel
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Of what type of weapons they allow the export to Israel, considering the extent of that country's disregard for international law, United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and the commitments it entered into with the Oslo Agreements.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: We support the sale of British defence equipment overseas unless there are compelling political, security or strategic reasons for not doing so. Applications for the export of defence equipment to Israel are considered on a case by case basis in the light of these considerations and the international guidelines to which we are committed,
agreed by the Five Permanent Members of the Security Council of the United Nations, with other EU member states and in the (then) Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.Nigeria
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What further action they are taking together with Commonwealth partners and other members of the United Nations to secure effective progress towards the restoration of civilian elected government and the enhancement of human rights in Nigeria.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: I shall represent the UK in the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group which will visit Nigeria on 19th/20th November as part of its efforts to encourage respect for human rights and the restoration of democracy. We continue to urge the Nigerians to co-operate fully with the visit by the UN Commission on Human Rights Thematic Rapporteurs and we are working with our EU and Commonwealth partners to secure a further UN General Assembly Resolution on Nigeria.
House of Lords Publications on the Internet
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked the Leader of the House:
- What House of Lords publications are now available on the Internet; and whether Judgments of the House of Lords are yet available in this form.
The Lord Privy Seal (Viscount Cranborne): From the beginning of the current parliamentary Session, House of Lords Hansard, indexed and with a full search facility, has been available free of charge on the Internet by 9.00 am on the day of publication. The printed version continues to be available, priced at £2.50 per day.
From today, Judgments will be available on the Internet. They will be accessible from 4.00 pm on the day of delivery in the House. The text will be complete with no headnotes or interpretative material.
The following publications are also available:
- Information on future business in the House of Lords and its Select Committees.
- Full text of the Report of the Science and Technology Committee on Information Society: Agenda for Action in the UK (5th Report, Session 1995-96, HL Paper 77).
- A range of information material on the role and work of the House, the judicial business of the House and the work of House of Lords Select Committees.
This material can be accessed from the United Kingdom Parliament home page at http://www.parliament.uk.
Equal Rights Organisations
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will now set up a Men's National Commission and, if not, why not.
The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Lord Henley): No. Unlike women, men are not under-represented in places where decisions are taken.
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in the light of changing employment patterns and the need to ensure that equal opportunities for men are not being overlooked, they will reconsider their refusal to reconstitute the Equal Opportunities Commission to achieve equality of representation of both sexes on the Commission instead of the existing imbalance of 10 women and three men.
Lord Henley: We note that the Equal Opportunities Commission's reports make quite clear that it pays full regard to equality of opportunity for both sexes. Appointments to the commission will continue to be made on the basis of individual merit alone and not on the basis of any artificial gender balance.
Teachers: Male/Female Ratio
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the latest figures for the proportion of male teachers in (a) state primary schools and (b) state secondary schools.
Lord Henley: In 1994-95 17 per cent. of full-time teachers in state nursery and primary schools in the United Kingdom were male. The equivalent figure for state secondary schools was 50 per cent.
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are conducting an inquiry to ascertain whether there is any correlation between the serious decline in the numbers of male teachers in state schools and the increase in behavioural problems in such schools, leading in some instances to industrial action by teaching staff and school closures.
Lord Henley: The evidence from HM Chief Inspector of Schools is that the great majority of schools are orderly places. Whilst there does not appear to have been any increase in the overall number of behavioural
problems in schools, it does seem that some of these have become more serious. However, there is no evidence of any link between such problems and the sex of the teachers involved.Handgun Imports
Lord Brain asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many handguns of a calibre over .22 have been imported from countries in the EU in each of the last five years giving the value of these imports and, if it is available, a breakdown by calibre and type of weapon (single shot, revolver, semi-automatic and automatic).
The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Fraser of Carmyllie): The data for UK imports of handguns are not available, either because they are not separately identifiable from other arms in the trade classification, or because they have been suppressed for strategic reasons.
South Africa: Free Trade Area with EU
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress is being made in the negotiations for a free trade agreement between South Africa and the European Union, with particular reference to access to the European Union for South African agricultural exports.
Lord Fraser of Carmyllie: The EU's negotiating position for a free trade area with South Africa was adopted at the General Affairs Council on 25th March 1996. In the vote on the negotiating directives, the UK abstained, joining Sweden in a statement to the Council underlining our commitment to liberalisation in all sectors including agriculture, and noting our opposition to any list of products to be excluded from the negotiations.
Since March technical discussions have taken place between the Commission and South Africa but a formal response to the EU's offer of a free trade area is still awaited.
Serious Fraud Office
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many people are employed and at what cost, in the Serious Fraud Office.
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern): At 1st October 1996 there were 160 permanent members of staff employed by the Serious Fraud Office. The budgeted amount for permanent staff costs for the financial year 1996-97 is £5.5 million.
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