254
est avail- g States ew York Punish- ationally plomatic
applied
above has
255
Written Answers
8 NOVEMBER 1978
No Order in Council has yet been made under section 3(2) of the Inter- nationally Protected Persons Act 1978 applying the extradition Acts as if the New York convention were an extradi- tion arrangement. The Act has not yet come into force.
Hong Kong
Mr. Kenneth Clarke asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards the provision of free secondary education for all in Hong Kong.
Mr. Luard: Free public sector educa- tion for all children up to age 15 was started in September 1978. It will be fully implemented and compulsory by Septem- ber 1980.
Mexico (Political Prisoners)
Mr. Kinnock asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth .Affairs if, in view of Her Majesty's Gov- ernment's commitment to the cause of advancing civil and human rights through- out the world, he will make representa- tions to the Government of the United States of Mexico concerning those un- acknowledged political prisoners who have not so far been released under the terms of the current federal and state amnesty laws.
Mr. Rowlands: My right hon. Friend is concerned about allegations of human rights violations wherever they may occur. We welcome the Mexican Gov- ernment's recent amnesty law and hope that it will extend to all detainees through- out Mexico who are imprisoned because of their political beliefs. The Mexican Government have made considerable efforts to promote respect for human rights.
Belize
Mrs. Jeger asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present situation in Belize; whether external threats continue against the integrity of this British colony; and what special assistance has been given by Her Majesty's Government following the recent hurricane.
Mr. Rowlands: We continue to seek a negotiated settlement to the dispute with
1 W 39
256
Written Answers
Guatemala over Belize and my right hon. Friend put forward to the new Guate- malan Foreign Minister in late September proposals designed to speed up the pro- cess of negotiation and bring the contro- versy to an end.
Her Majesty's Government provided assistance to the value of £99,000 immediately following the hurricane. A team of ODM officials is in Belize this week to discuss what further aid is needed.
ENVIRONMENT
Litter (London)
54. Mr. Dykes asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discus- sions he has had with the Greater London Council concerning litter policy.
Mr. Denis Howell: My Department has discussed with the local authority associa- tions the implementation of section 24— which deals with litter-of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 which it is intended to be implemented next year. No separate discussions have been held with the GLC.
WALES
House Building
Mr. Wyn Roberts asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the figures for housing starts, under construction, and completions in Wales, in the first six months of 1978.
Mr. Alec Jones: In the first six months of 1978, 6,480 dwellings were started and 6,760 were completed. 18,583 dwellings were under construction at the end of June.
Hospital Waiting Lists (South Glamorgan)
Mr. Michael Roberts asked the Secre- tary of State for Wales how many people are on waiting lists for treatment in each of the orthopaedic departments of hos- pitals in South Glamorgan ; and what is the maximum period of waiting in such
cases.
Mr. John Morris: As at 30th Septem- ber 1978 the number of patients on the wing lists for orthopaedic surgery in hospitals in South Glamorgan was: Uni- versity hospital of Wales, in-patient 175,