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Written Answers
Tuesday, 26th November 1996.
Iraq: Policy
Lord Brabazon of Tara asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their policy towards the Iraqi opposition.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey): We remain committed to the territorial integrity and unity of Iraq. It is for the Iraqi people to decide their political future. They have greatly suffered from Saddam Hussein's policies and his refusal to fulfil Iraq's international obligations. Sadly, we see no prospect that he will relent. We believe the interests of the Iraqi people would be best served by a government which was representative of all the Iraqi people and which followed responsible policies. Efforts by Iraqis to form a unified and representative opposition to Saddam Hussein's regime with this aim therefore deserve our support and encouragement.
Indonesia: Defence Equipment
The Viscount of Oxfuird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their policy on the export of defence equipment to Indonesia.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: We attach importance to our political and economic relationship with Indonesia. It plays a significant and responsible role both in the region and more broadly as a prominent member of various international groupings and a major contributor to peacekeeping forces. Our bilateral relations with Indonesia continue to develop strongly.
All applications to export UK defence equipment to Indonesia, and to other destinations, are carefully scrutinised on a case by case basis against established criteria and internationally agreed guidelines. Human rights are a key factor and we take into consideration inter alia the political situation and prospects in Indonesia. We do not license for export, to Indonesia or to any other country, any UK defence equipment likely to be used for internal repression. We apply this criterion rigorously, but remain confident that it leaves open the possibility of substantial co-operation with Indonesia in the procurement of defence equipment.
NATO: Members' Rights
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in any expansion of NATO to include new countries, those new countries should have a veto (a) over the further expansion of NATO and (b) over whatever relationship NATO may develop with Russia and other members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: All members of the Alliance have the same rights and obligations. This will apply equally to new members. Decisions in the Alliance are taken by unanimity, but the Alliance rests upon commonality of views and a commitment to work for consensus. Potential new members will have to demonstrate commitment to that process and those values.
NATO: Counter-Proliferation Policy
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether discussions within NATO on counter-proliferation hardware, including anti-tactical missile hardware, are being held on the understanding that NATO is to be expanded eastwards, and that nuclear weapons are, or may be, deployed in the territory of any new member.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 30th October (col. WA 20).
NATO and US Anti-Ballistic Missile Defence Schemes
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they, either alone or with NATO allies, have yet undertaken discussions with the governments of Japan, South Korea, Israel and Taiwan on the matter of joining in "theatre" anti-ballistic missile defence schemes, under the auspices of the United States Defense Counterproliferation initiative; and, if so, whether any conclusions have been reached.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: No such discussions have taken place.
Wartime Atrocities: Telegraphic Intercepts
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will make available transcripts of the British Intelligence Enigma decrypts of German telegraphic traffic relating to Police and Security reports of Nazi mass killings of Jews in Russia and the Ukraine in the autumn of 1941; and, if not, why not.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: The Government Communications Headquarters has identified a series of summaries issued between August 1940 and June 1945 relating to acts of atrocities, which are currently being reviewed for release to the Public Record Office along with the transcripts on which they are based.
At this stage, a specific release date has not been decided.
Alexander Nikitin
Lord Bethell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What representations they have made to the government of the Russian Federation over the case of Alexander Nikitin, who is presently in prison on charges of giving information to a Norwegian environmental body.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: The British Ambassador to Moscow raised the case of Alexander Nikitin with Dmitri Ryurikov, President Yeltsin's Foreign Policy Adviser, on 10th April 1996.
The case was also raised during bilateral human rights talks in London on 4th October.
Public Record Office, Rolls Chapel
Lord Denning asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have considered the future of the Rolls Chapel, being part of the Public Record Office in Chancery Lane; and whether it is to be demolished, preserved or sold.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe): Responsibility for the use of the Public Record Office building in Chancery Lane has been delegated under the terms of its framework document to the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate under its Chief Executive, Mr. Neil Borrett. The agency is therefore responding to the question.
Letter to Lord Denning from the Chief Executive of the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate, Mr. Neil Borrett, dated 22nd November 1996. The Rolls Chapel-Public Record Office
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Earl Howe, has asked me to respond to your Question regarding the above.
The Rolls Chapel is an integral part of the Public Record Office in Chancery Lane and will not be disposed of separately. The entire building is listed Grade II* and demolition of the chapel would be wholly inappropriate.
There are no plans to demolish either the Rolls Chapel or the Public Record Office. The current intention is to find an appropriate alternative use and dispose of the building, placing the onus of preservation upon the purchaser.
Open Skies Treaty
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have signed and ratified the Treaty on Open Skies; how many other states have done so; and how many ratifications are necessary for the treaty to come into force.
Earl Howe: Her Majesty's Government signed the Treaty on Open Skies on 24th March 1992 and ratified the Treaty on 27th October 1993. Twenty-three other states have ratified the treaty. Entry into force requires ratification by 20 signatories, but this number must
include certain key states. Of the latter, two further ratifications are required for the treaty to come into force.Port of Tyne Authority Privatisation
The Earl of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the statutory period for representations about the proposed privatisation of the Port of Tyne Authority ended, and if copies of the responses will be made available.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen): The statutory period for representations ended on 31st October. Respondents were asked to confirm their agreement to publish their comments. Copies of the representations of all those who gave permission have been placed in the DoT Information Centre, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3EB, where they will be available for inspection for six months from today.
Dichlorvos
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any research has been conducted into the effects of products containing Dichlorvos which are designed to remain active for several months, and which are used in domestic situations, upon the immune systems of adults and children and, if so, with what results.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers): The independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides' Evaluation of Dichlorvos (published in May 1994) reviewed available published and unpublished reports on the human health effects and efficacy of dichlorvos in non-agricultural products. The evaluation found no evidence of any effects upon the immune systems of adults and children.
European Fisheries Council, 22nd November
Viscount St. Davids asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the outcome of the European Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 22nd November.
Lord Lucas: My honourable friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food represented the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Fisheries Council in Brussels on 22nd November together with my honourable friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Scottish Office and my noble friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office.
My honourable friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food again made it clear that the UK could not contemplate significant further reductions in its fleet without the issue of quota hoppers being resolved. He also reiterated the need for our
performance under MAGP III to be correctly assessed and presented.Following its inconclusive debate in October on the Commission's Multi-Annual Guidance proposals (MAGP IV), the Council considered a Presidency compromise aimed at meeting the concerns expressed by member states. Most felt that the compromise provided a basis for further work, but that considerable analysis and discussion would be needed before conclusions could be drawn.
The Council concluded that work on the Presidency compromise would continue with a view to reaching a decision before the end of the year if possible.
On satellite monitoring, my honourable friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food supported the constructive approach taken by the Presidency in producing a text which addressed our key concerns, in particular in exempting smaller vessels operating within 12 miles of the coast. He also put to the Council a suggestion from industry for synchronising implementation with new rules by the International Maritime Organisation relating to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System; and he emphasised the need to use the advent of satellite monitoring to reduce the existing regulatory burden. Several member states continued to have difficulties on a variety of points and the Presidency concluded that the Council would have to return to the issue at a later date.
The Council unanimously adopted fish prices for 1997.
The Commission also presented a report on the monitoring of third country vessels in Community waters which the Council noted.
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