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Written Answers
23 MAY 1975 approached about 30 member States of the United Nations, including the United Kingdom, on 8th May, in order to assess what solutions could be found for the permanent resettlement of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees prior to mak- ing a formal appeal. Our reply is still under consideration.
Law of the Sea Conference
Mr. Hooley. asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress was made at the second United Nations Law of the Sea Conference in Geneva; and if he will make a statement.
Miss Joan Lestor: I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Com- monwealth Affairs told the House on 21st May in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. Henderson).[Vol. 892, c. 409-10.]
Passports
Mrs. Chalker asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has taken any further steps in exploring the possibility of the uni- lateral use of a joint passport by the wife,
of a holder.
Miss Joan Lestor: No. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 30th April to my hon. Friend the Mem- ber for Ilford, South (Mr. Shaw) and add that the term "joint passport
as used in the Question is a misnomer. What we issue is a "family passport in the name either of a husband or of a wife to enable
**
the family to travel together on one pass- port thus saving the expense of obtaining separate passports.
UNESCO (Israel)
:
Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg asked the Sec- retary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs if he will instruct the British representative at UNESCO to vote against the proposal to exclude Israel from the forthcoming UNESCO meeting of Mediterranean members.
Mrs. Hart: I have been asked to reply. The proposed list of member States to be invited to next year's international con. ference of States on a convention on the
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recognition of studies and degrees in the European and Arab countries bordering on the Mediterranean was established by the Director-General of UNESCO. The list was based on those member states which had received a copy of the report of the preliminary meeting of experts from Western Mediterranean countries which was circulated in 1973. It had not included Israel, and the question raised in discussions at the recent session of the executive board of UNESCO was whether Israel should now be added to the list. Israel does not currently have a member. on the executive board, but a representa- tive of the Government of Israel twice asked for, and was granted, permission to speak. In neither of her statements did she request the inclusion of Israel in the list and so the question of a vote on this point did not arise.
ENERGY
North Sea Oil Installations (Safety), Mr. Sproat asked the Secretary of State for 'Energy whether he is satisfied with the present safety provisions in case of industrial accidents on North Sea oil vision he proposes; and if he will make installations; what new powers of super-
a statement.
4
Mr. John Smith: All licensees operating on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf are required, under conditions attached to their exploration or production licences, to conduct all their operations in a work- manlike manner in accordance with good oilfield practice and to comply with instructions issued by the Department for securing the safety, hoalth and welfare of persons employed in those operations.
A comprehensive code of regulations is being introduced under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 covering the safety, health and wel- fare of such persons, the safety of the installations and operations carried out on or near them. The conduct of day-to- day operations and the health and safety of persons engaged in those operations are to be covered by regulations currently being drafted and all United Kingdom operators are working to the standards set
out in the draft.
The conditions of the licences and the provisions of the regulations are enforced
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