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Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: It is the practice of Her Majesty's Government to recognise states (including the Republic of the Congo), not governments. We deplore the violent overthrow of constitutional governments and unlawful military interventions.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government and the international community are deeply concerned about the situation in Congo (Brazzaville). The UN Secretary-General issued a report on 21 October. On 22 October the UN Security Council discussed the situation, with particular emphasis on the humanitarian problem. The UN will continue to follow events closely and the Security Council will meet again soon to discuss possible further action.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The new radar site on Ascension Island is undertaking an investigation into the distortion of very high frequency/ultra high frequency signals as they travel out of the atmosphere and back to earth. The US will share the results of their experiments with us if we so wish.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: On 18 September a joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Department for International Development delegation visiting China raised Chadrel Rinpoche's case with the authorities. The United Nations working group on arbitrary detention visited Tibet during their recent 10 day trip to China.
Lord Jenkins of Putney asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have consistently made clear that our goal is the global elimination of nuclear weapons. We are considering the best way to encourage progress towards this goal, particularly in the context of the strategic defence review.
Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has recommended approval of an export licence for this item, which has been issued by the Department of Trade and Industry. UN Security Council Resolution 1011 prohibits the export of military goods to non-governmental agents in Rwanda. However, the UN secretariat have confirmed that this embargo does not cover the export of equipment destined for UN operations. This export follows similar exemptions made for UNHCR in the fomer Republic of Yugoslavia.
Lord Peston asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government have recently approved the export of a single sporting rifle to Argentina following its repair by the original manufacturer in the UK. This is an exception, but not a change, to the embargo.
Lord Grenfell asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government recently approved the export of 340 riot shields of UK manufacture to the US Army for use in Bosnia to protect US SFOR troops. Given the tension in Bosnia around the time of the municipal elections on 13-14 September we were glad to be able to approve this export as an exception to the EU common position on arms exports to the former Yugoslavia. This decision does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU common position.
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, at the time of the bombing of the Khamisiyah weapons dump on 4 March 1991, there were any means of measuring the levels of nerve gas or other chemicals released in the vicinity of 32 Field Hospital; and if there were, what were the levels.
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert): In the time available so far it has not been possible to complete appropriate inquiries in order to provide an answer to these questions. As soon as I have sufficient information, I will write to the noble Countess. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman): The Government recognise the importance of long term reductions in emissions taking into account issues of equality and the need for developing countries to develop their economies and combat poverty. The proposals of the Africa Group merit consideration as one of a number of approaches to the long term control of greenhouse gas emissions. In the meantime we believe that developed countries must take the lead and agree at Kyoto to making legally-binding significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions after 2000. The EU proposal for a 15 per cent. reduction in emissions by 2010 provides the best way of achieving this.
Viscount Exmouth asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: On 27 October, Kent County Council's social services department was accommodating approximately 215 asylum seekers from eastern Europe, of whom more than 100 were children. In addition, on the same date, Dover District Council was accommodating 44 asylum-seeking families from eastern Europe under the homelessness legislation.
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: No. Once a vehicle passes the single vehicle approval (SVA) test it can be licensed and registered for use on roads in Britain. If elements of the test are changed as proposed in our current consultation,
the changes will not be retrospective; existing Minister's approval certificates issued under the existing SVA requirements will remain valid.
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