Written Answers
Nato Exercise And Central America Conflict
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will reconsider their participation in the NATO military exercise in the Gulf of Mexico in March, in the light of the danger that it may intensify the conflict between nations in Central America and the Caribbean, and prejudice the efforts of the Mexican President to negotiate a settlement.
The NATO exercise to which the noble Lord refers, Exercise SAFE PASS 82, was planned some time ago. It has no connection with Central American countries. It is designed to train NATO forces in the protection of Atlantic sea lanes. Our commitment to such exercises is an essential part of our contribution to NATO, as the United Kingdom would play a significant role in ensuring the safe passage of alliance shipping through the Atlantic in time of tension or war.
Geneva Talks And Nuclear Weapons Proposal
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will urge acceptance by the USA at the Geneva talks of the proposal by President Brezhnev, voiced during his visit to Bonn in November, that all nuclear weapons be removed from Europe, both in the East and in the West.
No. We believe that the first priority for the Geneva negotiations should be to reach agreement on a zero level in the land-based intermediate range nuclear missiles of most concern to each side, wherever they are deployed. The removal of nuclear weapons from Europe alone would not improve our security.
Moscow: Anti-Missile System
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether Moscow is protected by an effective anti-missile system.
Moscow is currently defended by the GALOSH anti-ballistic missile system. Its effectiveness would depend upon the type and density of attack.
Baha'i Exiles: Hong Kong
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will urge the Hong Kong Administration to provide exile status for Bahá'is from Iran, where at least 100 Bahá'is have been executed for their non-Islamic religious beliefs.
This is a matter for the Hong Kong Government. However, I am assured that if any Iranian Banái' residents in Hong Kong apply to continue to reside there, their applications will be considered with great care and any humanitarian factors taken into account, including any risk of persecution they may face.
Law Of The Seas Draft Treaty: New York Meeting
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware of the widespread support among conservation and environmental organisations in the United Kingdom for the constructive and generally positive measures included in the current draft of the Law of the Sea Treaty with respect to fishery management, migratory species, marine pollution, scientific research and the environmental aspects of deep sea-bed mining, and whether they will therefore take all possible measures to safeguard these positive provisions at the forthcoming meeting about the Treaty in New York.
The Government agree that the draft convention contains many valuable elements and will seek to ensure that these are retained in the course of the negotiations on the text in New York.
Sssi: Halvergate Marshes
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware that part of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on Halvergate marshes in Norfolk has just been ploughed-up by a farmer who recently bought the land, and whether they will confirm:
and whether they will state what activities on this SSSI have now been notified by the NCC as being potentially damaging.
The Government are aware that 22 acres of the Halvergate Marshes SSSI have recently been ploughed. The Nature Conservancy Council is closely in touch with the situation.The other information requested is as follows:
The activities notified by the NCC as being potentially damaging are as follows:
Un: Soviet Resolution On Human Rights
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will support at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva the resolution submitted by the Soviet Union, India, Syria and six other nations (entitled "The Need for Further Efforts to Ensure the Inalienable Rights of Europe to Live").
With almost all other Western countries, we abstained on the Soviet draft resolution about the arms race and the right to life. In our view, the motive behind this was largely propagandistic. The resolution represented an attempt to divert attention from genuine human rights issues, in which area Soviet inadequacies are well known, to disarmament, which is a subject already under consideration in more appropriate United Nations fora.
Bbc External Services
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether (a) the BBC's Royal Charter or (b) the BBC's Licence Agreement make it illegal for the BBC to arrange for the External Services to be heard in the United Kingdom, and which section of which statute sets out the law which the BBC would be breaking.
Clause 3(c)(i)(b) of the BBC Licence and Agreement defines the External Services as being for "countries and places beyond the seas" and Clause 17(1) provides for these services to be financed by such sums as the Treasury shall authorise out of monies provided by Parliament. It would be a misuse of funds intended by Parliament for the purpose of overseas broadcasting if they were employed deliberately for broadcasts to the United Kingdom. The BBC Home Services may re-broadcast material produced by the External Services provided there is no extra cost to the latter.
The Glc And "The Londoner"
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the solicitor to the Greater London Council has advised that the GLC newspaper
The Londoner is a proper expenditure under Section 142(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 and whether each issue has been approved as containing only material conforming to criteria laid down by the council; and, in view of the fact that councils of all political persuasions issue similar newspapers and information sheets, whether they agree with the advice of the solicitor to the GLC.
Questions on the legal advice given to the Greater London Council are a matter for that authority.House adjourned at thirteen minutes before eleven o'clock.