asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the next European Economic Community Council meeting will further consider the financial guidelines for budget discipline.

Yes. The 1986 reference framework is on the agenda for the July ECOFIN.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward measures to allow worker co-operatives, registered under industrial and provident society legislation, access to profit-sharing tax concession schemes on the same basis as small companies; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made during the Committee stage debates on clause 43 of the Finance Bill, in Standing Committee B, on 4 June 1985, at columns 350–56.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what negotiating machinery exists between the Arts Council of Great Britain and the trades unions with which it is involved.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 June 1985, c. 319]: The Arts Council recognises two unions, the Association of Supervisory, Technical and Management Staff and the Civil Service Union, both of which attend the council's joint negotiating committee.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts if he will state the qualifications of Mr. Ronald Grierson to be a member of the Arts Council of Great Britain.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 June 1985, c. 319]: Mr. Grierson is eminently qualified for membership of the Arts Council, by reason of his personal qualities and his experience of the financing of artistic organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many independent schools there are in Wales; and what information he has as to how many children attend them, as to the proportion of the total school population this represents, and as to the comparable figures for each of the last five years.

The information is as follows and refers to 1 January for each year:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many pupils attend independent school sixth forms in Wales; and what proportion of the total number of sixth form pupils in Wales this represents.

Information on the number of pupils in the sixth forms of independent schools is not collected centrally. The number of pupils at independent schools in January 1984, who were aged 16 and over at the beginning of the school year, total 1,576. This number represented 6·6 per cent. of pupils aged 16 and over at all maintained secondary and independent schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on Merseyside county council's current financial position and its anticipated overspend of £13 million above its rate-capped ceiling.

Merseyside county council fixed its budget and precept for 1985–86 on 7 March. It is for it to keep spending within available income.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has received from the European Commission arty documents listing sites in the United Kingdom of importance for bird conservation.

My Department has received from the EC a substantial volume of documentation containing a wide variety of information on habitats of particular importance to the conservation of birds and other wildlife. This has facilitated the identification of some 151 sites which meet the criteria for listing as special protection areas under the EC birds directive and 129 sites which qualify for designation as wetlands and international importance under the Ramsar convention.The speed of listing or designation, as the case may be, depends on progress on the SSSI renotification programme. We now expect to be able substantially to complete this programme by the end of 1986, and in the meantime I am discussing with the Nature Conservancy Council possible ways of speeding up progress on listing special protection areas under the EC birds directive and designating sites under the Ramsar convention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many jobs were created at each of the enterprise zones in the United Kingdom during 1984.

My Department has completed a report on ctivity, including employment, last year in enterprise zones in England, Scotland and Wales. Arrangements are being made for the report to be published shortly. Copies of the published document will then be placed in the Library of the House. A separate report on the zones in Northern Ireland will be completed later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation prohibiting any building from taking place in cases where planning permission is necessary until full planning permission has been obtained; and if he will make a statement.

Local planning authorities already have adequate powers to deal with breaches of planning control and may require the demolition of buildings erected without permission if they consider such a course appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy, when assessing the possible liability to grant penalty of Devon county council, to disregard any expenditure in excess of its target occasioned by the cost of repairing roads damaged by the severe weather conditions in 1984–85.

My right hon. Friend is considering the representations to that effect which he has received from Devon county council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what forecast he has made of local authority capital expenditure in England in 1985–86; and if he will make a statement.

From returns submitted by local authorities, I estimate that net expenditure on services covered by the main cash limit will be in the range £1,850 million-£2,750 million compared with the cash limit of £1,911 million. Expenditure by local authorities on the urban programme and derelict land reclamation is likely to be within the total of £279 million, which is the local authority element of the urban aid cash limit.I am concerned that there is again the prospect of an overspend against the main cash limit. This underlines the importance of the review which we are conducting with the local authority associations to find an improved system of control.I announced in the House on 18 December 1984, at column 165, that there would be no corrective action provided that outturn appeared likely to be within 5 per cent. of the cash limit (that is up to approximately £2,000 million). I recognise that authorities had to complete the recent returns at a very early stage and that there is still a considerable degree of uncertainty about the prospects for the year's outturn. I do not wish to cause unnecessary disruption to authorities' capital programmes when the figures are still so uncertain, and I propose no action at present. I shall continue to monitor the situation. If in the event there is an overrun on the cash limit it would be met from the reserve of £5 billion and would not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many persons have been proceeded against for offences relating to illegal fishing at sea in each of the past five years; of what nationality were these persons; and what was the average penalty imposed.

The information is contained in the table. Average penalties are not shown, but a range of penalties has been given in each year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many buildings are used by Grampian health board for administrative purposes; and what is the current estimate of their capital value.

The Grampian health board currently uses 10 buildings exclusively for administrative purposes. Their capital value is a matter for the board in the first instance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has given to the Whitlawburn tenants' association on the problem of financing the removal of asbestos from houses owned and managed by Glasgow district council.

My right hon. Friend has received two recent letters from the association on this subject. They are currently being considered and a reply will be sent very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress made in dealing with Kirkcaldy district council's application for a compulsory purchase order made on 7 November 1984 concerning land in Markinch, Fife.

Objections have been made against the order and have not been withdrawn. A public local inquiry is likely to be held in September.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total amount in grant allocated to Scottish Women's Aid in (a) 1983–84, (b) 1984–85 and (c) in the present financial year.

Grants made to Scottish Women's Aid for current expenditure, including the expenses of the children's worker and the training liaison officer, amounted to £54,259 in 1983–84 and £58,370 in 1984–85. In 1984–85 additional grants of £3,776 were made for certain minor capital items. The level of grant to be offered for the present financial year will be decided soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the United Kingdom health budget was spent in Scotland in 1983–84 and in 1984–85.

Gross expenditure on the health programme in Scotland represented 11 per cent. of total expenditure on health in the United Kingdom in 1983–84 and in 1984–85. The proportion for 1984–85 is derived from provisional figures for outturn expenditure in that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made since 1982 in reaching the target figure recommended in the Peters report of 0·6 community places per 1,000 population for mentally handicapped persons.

Provision as at 31 March 1984 was equivalent to 0·32 places per 1,000 population as against 0·26 at 31 March 1982. The breakdown of places is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what level of grant was paid by his Department to the organisation Age Concern Scotland in 1984–85 and in the present financial year.

Grants made available to this organisation in 1984–85 for the provision of services to the elderly in a variety of fields amounted to £106,587. Similar grants amounting to £125,362 have been made available in 1985–86 so far and applications for two additional projects are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take following his meeting with Edinburgh district council on 17 June regarding the application of the rate limitation policy to Edinburgh.

I intend to lay before Parliament in the week commencing 1 July a report seeking approval to a reduction of 5·2p in the rate of Edinburgh district council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for Fife and each region of Scotland and Britain the number of youth training scheme places authorised for 1984–85, the numbers available and the proportion of available places of those authorised.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 June 1985, c. 423]: Information in the form requested could be produced only at disproportionate cost. In particular, the computerised management information for the youth training scheme does not provide details of the number of available places. The table gives the number of YTS places planned and approved in 1984–85 for each local authority region in Scotland and each Manpower Services Commission administrative region in Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy concerning consultation with the Prison Officers Association.

The association is consulted, whenever possible and appropriate, either ad hoc or through the Whitley council arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the proportion of domestic fires caused by faulty or old electric wiring and as to the estimated loss in housing stock, cost to the fire brigade and loss of life caused by such fires.

Information is available on the number of fires in dwellings attended by fire brigades for which a fault in fixed mains electrical wiring is recorded as the source of ignition. In 1983 there were 2,016 such fires in the United Kingdom—3·5 per cent. of all fires in dwellings—which resulted in 14 deaths. Information for 1984 is not yet available. Information is not available centrally on the loss in housing stock from these fires, or on the cost to fire brigades of attending these fires.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the strength of the drugs squad for each police force in England and Wales for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Figures are readily available only for the two previous years and are given in the table. The responsibilities of drugs squads vary between forces and the figures are therefore not necessarily directly comparable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of burglaries committed on Merseyside over each of the past 10 years.

The information available centrally for Merseyside police force area is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" (table 2.4 of the volume for 1983, Cmnd. 9349). Corresponding figures for 1984 were published in a Home Office statistical bulletin, issue 6/85, on 12 March 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allocate funds for street lighting within the budget for crime prevention of the Metropolitan police; and if he will make a statement.

No. We understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that regular discussions take place at divisional level with councils about changes in the environment, including improvements to street lighting, designed to reduce the opportunities for crime. We also understand that crime prevention panels and community-police consultative groups have initiated similar discussion with councils in the Metropolitan police district.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the number of foreign nationals and other foreign representatives, excluding diplomats, currently residing within the United Kingdom; if he will give the comparable figures for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

It is estimated from the labour force surveys that about 1·6 to 1·7 million foreign and Commonwealth citizens were usually resident in Great Britain in the period 1979–83. Information for later years and for Northern Ireland is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to indicate the financial costs incurred by the Metropolitan police in their role in policing the miners' strike; and if he will make a statement.

The additional costs incurred by the Metropolitan police in providing mutual aid to other police forces in connection with the miners' dispute are estimated at £16·5 million. These costs fall to be met by the aided forces and almost £10 million has been paid to date. Discussions on repayment of the balance are currently taking place with the police authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what estimate he has made of the implications for the civil radio market of proposals to raise the licence fees of radios at outstations owned by water authorities; and if he will make a statement;(2) what consultations have taken place between the radio regulatory division of his Department and water authorities on proposals to raise the licence fees of radios at outstations owned by water authorities; and if he will make a statement;(3) by how much he proposes to increase licence fees for radios at outstations owned by water authorities; and what percentage this amount represents;(4) what plans he has to raise the licence fees of radios at outstations owned by water authorities; and if he will make a statement;(5) what estimate has been made of the increase in costs to water authorities of the proposals to raise the licence fees of radio stations at outstations owned by water authorities; and if he will make a statement;(6) what estimate he has made of the likely effect on water authorities of proposals to raise the licence fees of radios at outstations owned by water authorities; and if he will make a statement.

I have no immediate plans to alter Wireless Telegraphy Act fees, but it is now two years since levels were last amended and my officials will shortly be putting proposals to me for increases in most licence fees. The possibility of fees rising has been discussed in the Department's consultative forum on radio link matters, which includes representatives of the water authorities and manufacturers.It is the Government's intention that WT licence fees should both cover the direct licensing and, where appropriate, frequency assignment costs and also make a contribution to the costs incurred by my Department on wide spectrum management, including representation at international radio conferences. Certain licence types meet this requirement; others do not. In the case of scanning telemetry links at water authority outstations, we are aware that the current very low fee falls far short of covering the costs, bearing in mind the engineering effort involved. This has to be rectified. Indeed, it may be appropriate in due course to bring this licence fee more directly in line with the standard fee charged for a radio fixed link. It must be recognised that for water authorities and for many other users the licence fee is only a small fraction of the cost of radio equipment and of little significance when set against the economic benefit to the users of radio. I shall bear in mind all the points raised by my hon. Friend in considering any proposals for increased licence fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the outcome of the European Community Councils of Industry Ministers on 3 June and of Research Ministers on 4 June.

The Industry Council, at which I represented the UK, was the first to deal predominantly with telecommunications. It provided a valuable opportunity to exchange views on the progress of the Community's telecommunications initiative including standards policy and a draft directive on the mutual acceptance of test data for the type approval of telecommunicationss terminal equipment; intergovernmental video-conferencing; and, in preparation for the Research Council the following day, "RACE" (R and D in advanced communication technologies for Europe). We also discussed television broadcasting by satellite.We agreed in principle that the Community should petition the United States for legal protection against the copying of semiconductor chip designs originated in the Community. I welcomed a report recommending changes to remove competitive disadvantages experienced by the biotechnology industry as a result of Community agricultural regimes, and it was agreed that these changes should be referred to Agriculture Ministers for urgent consideration.The Research Council, at which the UK was represented by Sir Robin Nicholson (chief scientific adviser), reached a substantial degree of agreement on draft conclusions covering a package of measures including the terms on which the definition phase of RACE should proceed; procedures for considering wider European participation in large research facilities, including the spallation neutron source at the Rutherford Appleton laboratory; the site for the European synchrotron radiation facility; and the establishment of a tritium handling laboratory at the European Communities' joint research laboratory at Ispra in Italy. Final adoption of the conclusions was, however, deferred pending further consideration by France and the UK of their long-standing reservations on the tritium proposal in the context of the overall package now proposed. The UK has subsequently been able to lift its reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the takeover bid by Thomas Cook Ltd. for the Frames Travel Agent chain of shops to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and if he will make a statement.

The question of a reference arises only if any such bid involves the acquisition of assets in excess of £30 million or the creation or enhancement of a market share of 25 per cent. or more. If it does, my right hon. Friend will decide whether to make a reference in the light of the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest figure for the number of shareholders in British Telecom and for the number of shareholders who have sold their shares since the company's flotation.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 June 1985, c. 279]: I am told that British Telecom had about 1·69 million shareholders as at 31 May. I understand that the company intends to provide an analysis of shareholders by classification of shareholder and size of holding in its report and accounts for 1984–85, which are due to be published on 18 July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the amount of imports to the United Kingdom from EC countries for electro-plated nickel silver for the last five years for which figures are available; and whether there are any restrictions on exports of electro nickel plated silver from the United Kingdom to EC countries.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 June 1985, c. 346]: Electro-plated nickel silver (EPNS) goods are not separately identified in the UK Overseas Trade Statistics. There are no restrictions on exports of EPNS products from the UK to other EC countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the structure and safeguards for the public in the formation of limited companies in the United Kingdom where directors and nominated shareholders are resident overseas and subject to a different legal framework; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 June 1985, c. 346]: I see no reason why shareholders (or those who act on their behalf) and directors of companies registered in Great Britain should necesarily reside here. But if my hon. Friend has any specific reasons for recommending a change in the law consistent with our international obligations I would be interested to learn of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many youth training scheme places were identified and supported in the Burnley travel-to-work area and the county of Lancashire during the last month for which statistics are available.

In 1984–85 there were 1,341 approved youth training scheme places in the Burnley travel-to-work area and 9,043 in the county of Lancashire. The corresponding number of places planned for 1985–86 is 1,293 and 9,163 respectively.At the end of May 1985 there were 825 young people in training in the Burnley travel-to-work area and 6,020 in the county of Lancashire.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of companies located in the west midlands region which are presently employing young people within the framework of the youth training scheme.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 June 1985, c. 194]: There are currently some 250 mode A (that is employer-based) progammes which have young people taking part as employees under the youth training scheme in the West Midlands region.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the level of Exchequer support for apprenticeships at current and at constant prices in each of the years from 1964 to 1985.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 June 1985, c. 315–16]: Information is not available for the financial years 1964–65 to 1974–75. Between 1975–76 and 1982–83, support was provided in the form of premium grants for first-year apprentices and grants for award holders, as well as support for redundant apprentices and unplaced award holders, as follows:

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the estimated cost of providing and installing the new telephone system within the Palace of Westminster.

The total cost, including the provision of new handset equipment, is estimated at £2·037 million, of which 81 per cent. (£1·65 million) is to be borne by the House of Commons.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will seek to facilitate the setting up of a health and safety committee in the Palace of Westminster to include representation of the trade unions with membership employed in the Palace; and if he will make a statement.

A safety committee comprising representatives of management and staff of the House of Commons was first set up in 1976 and continues to meet regularly under the chairmanship of the Deputy Assistant Serjeant at Arms.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if any research is being undertaken into the effects on people employed in the Palace of Westminster who work with visual display units for more than three hours a day; if there are any plans to introduce guidelines for using them safely; and if he will make a statement.

In this, as in other matters, the House of Commons seeks to maintain standards broadly in line with the Civil Service, and it follows the relevant guidelines from the Cabinet Office (MPO), Her Majesty's Treasury Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency and the Civil Service Medical Advisory Service in the light of their research into the effects of working with VDUs. The

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now received a report on the cause of the deaths of 14 herons on the River Avon near Evesham; and whether he is taking any action in relation to the incident.

Recent reports of the death of 14 herons along the River Avon near Evesham, are at present being investigated by MAFF in consultation with ITENCC, RSPB and the Severn Trent water authority. It is not yet possible to draw any firm conclusions about the likely causes of death until MAFF laboratory studies and the present Severn Trent water authority water sampling programme have been completed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the figures in actual value and percentage terms of agricultural product exports from each of the EC countries over the last five years.

Information on the value of agricultural exports is summarised in successive editions of the Commission's annual publication "The Agricultural Situation in the Community", copies of which are in the Library of the House. The following table provides the information requested for the years 1979 to 1983; comparable information for 1984 is not yet readily available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reconsider his decision over delayed payments for butter taken into intervention.

Although milk production has fallen since the introduction of quotas, United Kingdom public intervention stocks of butter now amount to 170,000 tonnes as compared with 143,000 tonnes a year ago. I would not want to take steps which could add to these and reduce the incentive to find real market outlets. Producers have this year received a 1·5 per cent. rise in the target price for milk and a cut of a percentage point in the co-responsibility levy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reconsider his decision over the level of Government funding for eradication of Aujeszky's disease.

We described very fully to producers' representatives our views on Government funding for the Aujeszky's disease control and eradication scheme as recently as 17 June. There are no grounds for changing our decision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has for his statement in response to the Agriculture Committee's third report on Aujeszky's disease to the effect that the benefits of the eradication policy are already being felt in terms of improved health in the national pig herd, and that there are likely to be increased export opportunities.

There is an absence of costly clinical manifestations of disease and a marked reduction in the number of infected herds being found. The diminution in incidence of disease is reflected in a reduction in its cost to the industry through fattening delays and other factors. With increased control of the disease, it is reasonable to expect facilitation of exports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his Department's latest estimates, with confidence limits, of the present number of pig units containing one or more Aujeszky's sero-positive pigs in Great Britain, by herd type, size and region; and if he will make a statement;(2) when he expects the eradication of Aujeszky's disease to be complete in Great Britain; and what is his latest estimate of the prospective costs to the industry and the Treasury.

As we have made clear on a number of occasions, it is not possible to forecast when any control and eradication scheme will attain complete freedom from disease. Aujeszky's disease is among the more difficult upon which such a forecast can be made. We are vigorously pursuing through sow serum surveys and by other means the detection of remaining infection.Costs to the industry so far, made up of compensation for slaughter and related costs, compensation for disruption, and interest charges, less the salvage value of slaughtered animals, are about £22·8 million. Over £8·5 million has been collected through the levy and the remainder represents the PDEF overdraft. In addition, the Government have spent about £3·2 million in staff and laboratory costs which has not been charged to the industry. Additional costs under the scheme will depend on the extent of remaining infection not yet found.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to consult the representatives of the pig industry on any future procedural or financial changes in the Aujeszky's disease eradication scheme; and if he will make a statement.

:I had a full discussion with representatives of the Pig Disease Eradication Fund Ltd. about the Aujeszky's disease programme on 17 June in the light of the Agriculture Committee's report and my reply to it. We should, of course, consult the industry if any proposals to amend the scheme were being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent proposals to European Economic Community Foreign Ministers concerning practical steps towards European union.

Our ideas, based on those contained in "Europe—the Future"—copies of which are in the Library—include a timetable for completing the Common Market, measures to strengthen political co-operation, and practical steps to improve decision taking.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the proposals on European union will be discussed by the Council of Foreign Ministers at their next meeting; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 25 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the suggestions made by Her Majesty's Government in respect of the Heads of Government working party (Dooge committee) on European union.

Where they differ from the views of others, United Kingdom suggestions are contained in footnotes to the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Institutions, which has been published.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Parliament will be asked to approve the Dooge committee proposals before final decisions on them are taken in the EC.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) on 9 May 1985 at column 506.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters he will ask to be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

The next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council will be held on 22 and 23 July. It is too early to say what items will be on the agenda, although follow-up to this week's European Council will be among them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department plans to take any steps to publicise the extent of Soviet research into space and new anti-ballistic missile weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish a report on the extent of Soviet research into space and anti-ballistic missiles.

The Soviet Defence Minister has recently admitted that the Soviet Union is conducting outer space research, including in the military sphere. Soviet activities in this field are extensive and long established, as I told my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 24 April, at columns 448–49. I am considering whether further information can be made available in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg at the human rights convention in Ottawa; and if he will make a statement.

Our delegation to the Ottawa meeting of human rights raised the case of Raoul Wallenberg during bilateral discussions with its Soviet counterpart. The response from the Soviet side was to reiterate their claim that Mr. Wallenberg had died in 1947.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the Foreign Minister of Italy; and if he will make a statement.

I expect to meet my Italian colleague, Signor Andreotti, in Milan at the European Council on 28–29 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with members of the Commonwealth on the situation in Sri Lanka.

It is the convention, of course, that the Commonwealth does not discuss the internal problems of member states without the consent of the country concerned. We have none the less kept in close touch with the Government of Sri Lanka both before and after the visit there of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in April. We particularly welcome the recent discussions between the Governments of Sri Lanka and of India, with whom we have also maintained contact, and the announcement of a cease-fire in Sri Lanka on 18 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to seek to visit Sri Lanka.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for emigration to the United Kingdom have been received by the consulate in Sri Lanka over the last 12 months; and what proportion of these were in respect of Tamils.

Between May 1984 and May 1985 the high commission in Colombo received a total of 201 entry clearance applications for settlement in the United Kingdom. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of those from Tamils as, until 30 May 1985, applications were recorded on a basis of nationality only.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth. Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States Government about the chemical weapons talks in Geneva.

My right hon. and learned Friend is in regular contact with the United States Administration about the chemical weapons negotiations in Geneva, as over other aspects of arms control. When he saw Secretary Shultz in Lisbon during the recent meeting of the North Atlantic Council, they agreed on the need to press for the early conclusion of a comprehensive chemical weapons ban.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those areas in which the Government are prepared to accept the greater use of majority voting in the Council of Ministers.

Over 40 articles of the treaty of Rome already provide for majority voting, but the Council's practice has usually been to defer votes in the search for unanimity. We consider that British interest would be well served if votes were more regularly taken where the treaty so provides, subject to the right of member states to insist that discussion is continued where very important national interests are at stake.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is planning any changes in the way the British Broadcasting Corporation external services are financed.

We are actively considering the recommendations in the Perry report for changing the way the BBC external services are financed. These include the recommendation that the grants-in-aid to the external services should be determined on a multi-annual basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise at the United Nations Security Council the attempted sabotage of Gulf Oil installations in Cabinda, Angola, by South African military forces.

A Security Council meeting on the subject was held on 20 June at the request of the Government of Angola. The Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 567, strongly condemning the South African action.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of Hong Kong in the light of the recent visit by the Chinese Prime Minister.

The future of Hong Kong was among the subjects discussed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister with the Chinese Premier. I also discussed this subject with Foreign Minister Wu Xueqian. Both sides reaffirmed their determination to implement fully the joint declaration on the question of Hong Kong, which was ratified on 27 May and was subsequently registered at the United Nations by both Governments on 12 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the United Kingdom ambassador to South Africa has made to the South African Government on human rights in that country.

Directly and with our partners in the Ten, we have made such representations on a number of occasions recently through our ambassador in Pretoria, through the South African ambassador here, and through the Italians on behalf of the Ten.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to review the operation in the United Kingdom of the United Nations arms embargo against South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to review the operation in the United Kingdom of the arms embargo against South Africa.

We see no reason at present to conduct any such review, but would consider evidence which suggested the need for one.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current United Kingdom relations with Chile.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of relations between the United Kingdom and Chile.

We have normal diplomatic relations with Chile, but continue to make clear out concern about human rights violations and the constraints on political activity. We hope that the lifting of the state of siege with effect from 17 June may mark a new beginning in the process of restoring democratic freedoms.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of recent killings in Chile, he will reassess United Kingdom relations with that country.

We keep the situation in Chile under constant review, and continue to remind the Chilean Government of the need for an improvement in the human rights situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in taking action against the Syrian diplomat, Ahmed Waled Rajab.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 June, at columns 496–98, to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Latham). Before taking any action against diplomats alleged to have used their immunity to default on a civil obligation we need to be satisfied that there has been such an abuse; that legal remedies have been exhausted; and that the diplomat has had time to state his side of the case and to rectify the default.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office became directly involved in this case in February 1985 when we were told by Mr. Chaffey's solicitors that Mr. Rajab was not ready to observe a court order to vacate Mr. Chaffey's flat. Mr. Rajab eventually vacated the flat before expiry of the deadline for doing so given him by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In the circumstances, however, we consider that the early transfer of Mr. Rajab from this country would be in the best interests of relations between the United Kingdom and Syria. We have made this clear to the Syrian authorities, from whom we expect an early response.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet a representative of the Government of El Salvador.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to meet a representative of the Government of E1 Salvador.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to seek to visit E1 Salvador.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 22 May at column 463.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the date of the most recent communication he has had with the Government of Argentina concerning the future of the Falkland Islands.

Whilst we are not prepared to discuss the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, we have since the Falklands conflict take a number of initiatives to achieve more normal bilateral relations with Argentina. For example, we have made plain to the Argentines our readiness to accept a suitably prepared visit by next-of-kin of Argentine service men buried there.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy, failing the early establishment of a multilaterally-based conservation and management regime for fisheries in the waters around the Falkland islands, to declare a 200-mile fisheries zone.

Our current policy is to work actively for the establishment of a multilaterally-based fisheries conservation and management regime around the Falkland Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has made any assessment of the practicability of resettlement with compensation for the Falkland islanders.

The Falkland islanders have consistently made clear, through their elected representatives, their desire to remain resident in the islands. Many of their families have been in the Falklands for over five generations. We shall continue to protect their right to live there in peace and security under a Government of their own choosing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number and type of fishing vessels to be found at any one time within a 200-mile radius around the Falkland Islands; and what information he has as to what they are fishing for.

We currently estimate that since the beginning of 1985 a daily average of about 60 fishing and ancillary vessels have been seen within the Falkland Islands protection zone. They have comprised trawlers, squid jiggers and support vessels. Our information suggests that the main catch is currently squid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the President of Mexico.

The President of Mexico paid a most successful state visit to Britain from 11–14 June, during which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had talks with him at 10 Downing street, and I had a separate meeting with the Foreign Minister. In these meetings we were able to discuss a wide range of economic and international matters of interest to both Governments. The President's visit marked a further strengthening of our excellent relations with this important Latin American country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European Economic Community counterparts concerning reform of the budgetary procedure.

In a whole series of talks with my European Community colleagues, I have underlined the need to sustain the momentum of reform which began with the adoption last December of conclusions on budget discipline.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of British relations with Nicaragua.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Dubs).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his American counterpart concerning United States policy toward Central America.

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) on 22 May at column 454.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held by European Economic Community Foreign Ministers concerning political co-operation with Central America.

Following the meeting of European Community Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg on 29 April, it was announced that the Ten were following with satisfaction the progress of a mission sent to Central America in April and May. Ministers also confirmed their firm support for the Contadora process.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to complete discussions with his European Economic Community counterparts on a new political and economic package for Central America.

We expect the Council of Ministers to be in a position to approve the Commission's negotiating mandate for a European Community/Central America co-operation agreement in time for negotiations with the Central American countries to begin this autumn.

asked the Secretary of State far Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with the arrangements he has made to seek to ensure the safety of British citizens resident in Argentina.

Since the break in diplomatic relations between Britain and Argentina in 1982, the Swiss Government have acted as protecting power with responsibility for British interests and British residents in Argentina. The British interests section of the embassy of Switzerland offers consular services. These arrangements are the most satisfactory ones possible in the unusual circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current events in the Lebanon, in so far as they relate to the policies of Her Majesty's Government.

We deplore recent appalling acts of violence and lawlessness in Lebanon. We continue to believe that an improvement in security can only be achieved by agreement between the Lebanese themselves. Our primary concern is for the suffering of the civilian population. This month we donated a further £500,000 to the International Committee of the Red Cross Lebanon appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there has been any recent progress in the mutual and balanced force reduction talks in Vienna.

There is no significant progress to report from the mutual and balanced force reductions talks in Vienna. As I told the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 24 April, at columns 863–64, we are, together with our NATO allies, continuing to study carefully the Eastern proposal of 14 February. This followed the negative response of the East to the positive Western initiative of April 1984.