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WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
Wednesday 25th June 1975
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Southern Africa
5. Mr. Ioan Evans asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consultations he has had with African leaders in Southern Africa regarding developments in that
area.
19. Mr. Biggs-Davison asked the Secre- tary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about recent exchanges with Governments in Southern Africa.
contact
Mr. James Callaghan : I am in regular
with
Governments in many Southern Africa about developments in that area. Since the Kingston meeting I have also had discussions with bishop
Muzorea and Mr. Nkomo of the African National Council and Mr. Nujoma of SWAPO.
As the House will know, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State is at this moment meeting African leaders in Mozambique.
Passports
10. Mr. Trotter asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will in future maintain records of the number of passports issued by consulates in each country to those claiming to have lost their original pass- port; and why this is not at present done.
Mr. Rowlands: No. I am not satisfied that the usefulness of such records justi- fies the labour and expense of collecting and collating the relevant informtaion.
Seychelles
14. Mr. Mather asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the future relationship of Her Majesty's Government with the Seychelles.
Mr. Rowlands: The report on the Seychelles Constitutional Conference held in March 1975 sets out a proposed time- table leading to independence by 30th June 1976, subject to parliamentary
20 N 18
108
approval. Both the major political parties which recently formed the Coalition Gov- ernment
desire in Seychelles
early independence, under Her Majesty the Queen, within the Commonwealth.
Middle East
17. Mr. Madel asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a request for further British financial aid for United Nations forces in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Hattersley: The Security Council renewed the mandate of the United Nations Emergency Force in the Middle East for a further three months from 15th
April 1975 and of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force for six months from 28th May 1975. The United Kingdom's assessment for this period, amounting to £526,000, has been paid within the last few days.
Indian Immigrants (Entry Permits)
20. Mr. Arnold Shaw asked the Secre- tary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs whether any progress has been made towards reducing the time lag at the British High Commission in New.. Delhi between application and interview for entry permits to the United Kingdom.
Mr. Rowlands: No. The time lag at New Delhi between application and inter- view for settlement entry certificates has remained fairly constant during the first five months of the year at about ló months. This is because an increase in the interview rate has been offset by the increase in new applications during this period.
Arms Sales
21. Miss Richardson asked the Secre- tary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs what political criteria are applied in deciding whether to sell arma- ments to any particular country.
Mr. Hattersley: Circumstances differ and each case is considered on its merits.;
Hong Kong
22. Mr. Dan Joncs asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth.
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