House of Commons Hansard Debates for 16 Feb 1993

Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 16 February 1993

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

South Georgia

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to collect payment from ex- Soviet fishing operations off South Georgia.

Mr. Garel-Jones : The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are actively pursuing, with some success, debts owed by vessel owners for the transhipment of their catches off South Georgia. The majority of outstanding debts are owed by vessels of the former Soviet Union.

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many landings have occurred in prohibited areas by tourists in South Georgia over the last two years.

Mr. Garel-Jones : There was one unsubstantiated report during 1992 that a cruise vessel had landed passengers in a prohibited area.

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the sources of income for South Georgia for the last three years.

Mr. Garel-Jones : The main sources of income over the last three years have been transhipment fees paid by fishing vessels, port and harbour dues, investment income, money from the sale of stamps and income from tourist charges.

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has had about the need for a tourism management plan for South Georgia ;

(2) if he will list the detailed requirements for a South Georgia management plan ;

(3) when he expects to publish a management plan for South Georgia.

Mr. Garel-Jones : We are studying the case for commissioning a detailed management plan for South Georgia and have received representations about the introduction of such a plan from various interested individuals and groups. Any plan would need to cover a range of issues, including the impact of tourism on the environment of South Georgia. In the light of advice from our environmental advisers we shall examine whether existing legislation should be updated and any further measures which may be necessary.

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to introduce a charge for tourist visits to South Georgia.

Mr. Garel-Jones : During 1992, a charge of US$50 per head was introduced for all tourists visiting South Georgia.

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Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to apply for a world heritage listing for South Georgia ; and if he will list the advantages and disadvantages of obtaining a world heritage listing for South Georgia.

Mr. Garel-Jones : The World Conservation Union is considering which sub-antarctic islands meet the criteria for world heritage listing. We will examine the case for the listing of South Georgia in the light of their recommendations.

Antarctica

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the reasons why the United Kingdom has delayed the extension of maritime zones in Antarctica.

Mr. Garel-Jones : The sea areas around the British Antarctic Territory are included within the scope of Antarctic treaty instruments to which the United Kingdom is a party. These instruments provide a legal regime for sustainable and non-sustainable resources. We see no advantage in extending maritime zones.

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his officials have made of the Macquarie island plan.

Mr. Garel-Jones : We have studied the Macquarie island nature reserve management plan of 1991 prepared by the Tasmanian Government's department of Parks, Wildlife and Heritage. This provides a prescriptive framework which takes account of the conservation and management needs of that island.

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to extend the maritime zones of the South Sandwich islands, the South Orkney islands, South Georgia, Gough islands and Shag rocks.

Mr. Garel-Jones : A fisheries zone of 200 nautical miles has already been created around Gough island as part of the Tristan da Cunha island group. The territorial sea around South Georgia, which includes Shag rocks, and the South Sandwich islands was extended to 12 miles in 1989. The situation is kept under review. There are no plans to extend maritime zones off the British Antarctic Territory which includes the South Orkney islands.

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list those Antarctic islands together with their parent country that have had their maritime zones extended ; and from what date this took effect in each case ; (2) if he will list those Antarctic islands and their parent country that have not had their maritime zones extended.

Mr. Garel-Jones : On the basis of the published information available, it appears that the islands within the Antarctic treaty area and the following sub-Antarctic islands have the fishery zones or economic zones which are listed in the table, with effective dates indicated where available.

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Island                                 Nationality     Zone                           

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Heard Island     )                                    |1979                           

McDonald Island  )    |Australia      |200 mile       |1979                           

Macquaire Island )    |  fishing zone                                                 

                                                                                      

Auckland Island  )    |New Zealand    |200 mile       |1977                           

Campbell Island  )                    |  economic zone|1977                           

                                                                                      

Prince Edward Island) |Republic of    |1977                                           

Marion Island       ) |  South Africa |1977                                           

                                                                                      

Crozet Island    )                                    |1978                           

Kerguelan Island )    |France                         |1978                           

Amsterdam Island )                                    |1978                           

Saint Paul Island)                                    |1978

Statutory Instruments

Ms. Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by his Department in each year since 1980.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd The following number of statutory instruments were laid before Parliament by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in theyears 1980 to 1992Number

1980 30

1981 45

1982 22

1983 21

1984 22

1985 28

1986 20

1987 27

1988 31

1989 24

1990 24

1991 10

1992 23

Island Groups

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what studies he has made of the management plans for the Campbell and Snare island groups ; and what input his officials have had into the plans for the Antipodes and Bounty island group.

Mr. Garel-Jones We have not received copies of the management plans for the Campbell and Snares island groups and have not been asked to comment on the plans for the Antipodes and Bounty island group.

Diplomatic Service

Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the recent decision by the diplomatic service to reduce the number of Rolls-Royce motor cars ; and why this decision was taken.

Mr. Goodlad : A number of representations have been received since the decision was taken in 1990 to reduce the number of Rolls-Royce cars used in diplomatic posts overseas. The most recent of these approaches have been from my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Mills) and from Mr. Nigel Cornelius, director of UK and Pacific operations Rolls-Royce Motor Company Ltd.

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The decision was taken in the context of tightening financial constraints which made it necessary to make substantial savings in the provision of vehicles for overseas posts.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Rolls-Royce motor cars are currently owned and used by the diplomatic service overseas, and at which embassies, consulates and other units.

Mr. Goodlad : The diplomatic service at present owns and uses eight Rolls-Royce motor cars. These are in the following overseas posts. Bonn

Canberra

Moscow

Paris

Pretoria

Riyadh

Tokyo

and Washington

Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Overseas Affairs if he will make a statement of his policy on (a) providing assistance with the promotion of the products of United Kingdom manufacturers through the diplomatic service and (b) the criterion by which value for money in diplomatic service purchasing policy is assessed.

Mr. Goodlad : The promotion of Britain's economic interests overseas, including visible and invisible exports, is one of the basic aims of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A variety of services is provided by our overseas posts and the Department of Trade and Industry for exporters of British goods and services. In accordance with Government guidelines, the purchasing policy of the FCO is based on obtaining value for money through competition. British suppliers are used where they are competitive on quality, price and delivery.

Yugoslavia

Mr. Elletson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with other members of the UN Security Council and EC member states about sanctions against the former Yugoslavia ; what decision has been taken as to the circumstances in which sanctions might be applied to Croatia ; what assessment he has made of whether Russia will continue to support sanctions against Serbia ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : We are in close contact with our European partners and members of the United Nations Security Council on this issue. No decision has been taken on what circumstances would require sanctions against Croatia. Russia has repeatedly made clear its full support for the enforcement of sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro.

The Edinburgh European Council made clear that unless there were a radical change of policy in Belgrade, and genuine co-operation with the peace process, the international community would continue to take stern action against the authorities there, isolating Serbia for a long time to come.

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Visas

Mr. Gerrard : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number of appeals in each of the last five years against refusal of visitor's visas to people visting the United Kingdom in order to visit relations or friends in Walthamstow ; and how many were successful.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The information requested is not centrally recorded and could not be provided except at disproportionate expense.

Serbia

Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many identified detention centres have been set up by the Serbian administration ; and what evidence he has of the prevailing conditions and the welfare of the prisoners.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : The International Committee of the Red Cross has not been able to identify any detention camps set up by the Serbian administration. The ICRC has, however, identified five detention camps in Bosnia administered by Bosnian Serb authorities. It has access to all five.

Foreign Policy

Mr. Elletson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department last conducted a general review of British foreign policy ; and what were its conclusions.

Mr. Hurd : My Department keeps British foreign policy under almost constant review, adapting policies and redeploying resources whenever necessary. The FCO departmental report, which describes recent developments and future priorities, was published on 10 February. I have agreed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that during this year we shall be studying ways in which this country's diplomatic and related work overseas can be enhanced.

Diplomatic Missions

Mr. Mandelson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals exist to close British diplomatic missions over the next 10-year period ; in which countries these missions are scheduled for closure ; and with what savings proportionate to his Department's total budget.

Mr. Goodlad : We are studying carefully a range of options for reducing expenditure in line with the public expenditure plans announced in the 1992 autumn statement. No decisions have yet been taken.

Falkland Islands

Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government are giving to the Falkland Islands Government, GECO-PRAKLA and Spectrum to explore and survey for hydrocarbons in the waters around the Falkland Islands ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Garel-Jones : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs approved

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the issue of licences to both companies to enable them to carry out seismic surveys in the Falkland Islands designated area. Surveying has begun.

Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the statement made by the Governor of the Falkland Islands to the executive council on 23 December 1992, with regard to seismic licences ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Garel-Jones : Meetings of the Falklands executive council are confidential.

Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what he has done to counter the claims made by the Argentine Government over waters currently the subject of seismic licences held by GECO-PRAKLA and Spectrum to survey for hydrocarbons, since the granting of those licences.

Mr. Garel-Jones : The Argentines are well aware of our position regarding the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and their surrounding maritime areas. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. and noble Friend the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey in another place regarding our sovereignty of the Falkland Islands :

"Sovereignty is not for negotiation. I cannot underline that too strongly". --[ Official Report, House of Lords, 1 February 1993 ; Vol. 542, c. 8- 9.]

Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue a letter of comfort on behalf of the British Government to enable the oil industry to further explore for hydrocarbons in the waters around the Falkland Islands.

Mr. Garel-Jones : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Glanford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 10 February 1993, Official Report, column 681.

Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Argentine Government, during his last visit to the Argentine, in respect of (a) the Falkland Islands continental shelf, (b) the exploration for hydrocarbons in the waters of the Falkland Islands and (c) the entry of the Argentine into the squid licensing market in waters around the Falkland Islands.

Mr. Garel-Jones : During the visit of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to Argentina in January, he made clear to Foreign Minister di Tella our concerns about the potential over-fishing of the vulnerable illex squid stock as a result of extra fishing effort in Argentine waters and agreed with Dr. di Tella that we should work to achieve a long-term fisheries agreement. He also took the opportunity to update Dr. di Tella on the seismic surveying in the Falklands designated area. He gave no undertaking that oil exploitation can only go ahead after prior agreement with Argentina. Dr. di Tella understands this position fully.

Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the effect of Argentina's entry into the squid licensing market on squid stocks in waters around the Falkland Islands ; and if he will make a statement.

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Mr. Garel-Jones : Increased fishing of illex squid in Argentine waters this season may put extra pressure on the vulnerable illex squid stock. The agreement we reached with Argentina in December whereby they will issue 45 permits in response to applications for more than twice that number will mean that the risk is considerably less than it would otherwise have been.

Quangos

Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all those non-departmental public bodies, for which his Department is responsible, which have the power to compel individuals, firms, companies or other institutions to carry out their instructions at the expense of the individuals, firms, companies or other institutions, and also to charge fees for the cost to the non- departmental public bodies of assessing the work which needed to be done.

Mr. Goodlad : None of the non-departmental public bodies for which I am responsible has such powers.

NATIONAL FINANCE

Trade Deficit

Sir Gerard Vaughan : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the main types of consumer goods which contribute to the United Kingdom trade deficit.

Mr. Nelson : Overseas trade statistics suggest that "apparel and clothing accessories", "passenger motor cars" and "household fixtures and fittings" contributed significantly to the deficit in our trade in consumer goods in 1992.

Public Sector

Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those industries, businesses and enterprises remaining in the public sector.

Mr. Portillo : The following enterprises are currently in the public sector :

Audit Commission

Bank of England Banking Department

British Broadcasting Corporation

British Coal

British Railways Board

British Waterways Board

The Buying Agency

Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd

Central Office of Information

Channel Four Television Company Ltd

Civil Aviation Authority

Commonwealth Development Corporation

Companies House

Covent Garden Market Authority

Crown Agents and Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board Crown Estate Office

Development Board for Rural Wales

Driving Standards Agency

English Industrial Estates Corporation

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Forestry Enterprise

Her Majesty's Stationery Office

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Horserace Totalisator Board

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