Fritten Answers
27 FEBRUARY 1978
Written Answers
Belize
105
Mr. Millan: The estimated average increases in rateable value for all classes of property in each local authority area were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. White) on 18th November 1977.-[Vol. 939, c. 425-8.] Information ca particular properties and areas is available from the valuation rolls which are open to public inspection.
Mr. Teddy Taylor asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has bad from industry about the in- crease in its rating burden; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Millan: I have had three letters, including one from the Scottish Chairman of the Confederation of British Industry. In the light of the estimated distribution of the rate burden, published last Novem- ber, I decided that there should be a sub- stantial reduction in the preferential rat- ing position of domestic ratepayers through the domestic element and that industrial derating should be maintained at 50 per cent.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH
AFFAIRS
Vietnamese Refugees
37. Sir Anthony Royle asked the Sec- retary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs what consultation he is having with the Government of Hong Kong regarding the onward transit to the United Kingdom of some of the Viet- namese refugees that arrive in the Colony from South Vietnam; and if he will make
a statement.
Mr. Luard: We are currently discuss- ing with all concerned the possibility of accepting into the United Kingdom a aumber of Vietnamese refugees at present in Hong Kong.
South-West Airica
Mr. Eldon Griffiths asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his recent talks on South-West Africa.
Mr. Rowlands: I reler the hon. Mem- ber to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave him on 22nd February.-voi. 944,
C.
HKK 243/1
.
106 IN-EX
No
Mrs. Jeger asked the Secreta for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the present position in Belize.
Mr. Rowlands: I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's statement to the House of 25th January.-[Vol. 942, c. 1382-90.]
Uganda
Mrs. Knight asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent exchanges have taken
place directly or indirectly between repre- sentatives of Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Uganda concern- ing the resumption of diplomatic relations.
Mr. Rowlands: None.
Passports and Consular Services
Mr. Mark Hughes asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to in- crease the fees for passports and for con- sular services.
Mr. Tomlinson: Yes. Aa Order in Council has recently been published which provides for increases with effect from 6th March 1978. In general, fees for passport services will be raised by 10 per cent. on the levels established in 1977. The fee for a standard passport, which was last increased on 7th Febru- ary 1977, will rise from £10 to £11 and there are commensurate increases in most other passport services fees. The fee for a British visitor's passport rises to £5-50. Fees for consular services, which are per- formed mainly abroad, are also being raised so as to produce an estimated overall increase in revenue of about 10 per cent.
These increases are necessary to meet the rising costs of the passport offices in the United Kingdom and the consular ser- vices overseas.
Foreign Service Allowance
Mr. Churchill asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many increases, and of what percentages, there have been in foreign service allowances for members of the foreign service in the Federal Republic of Germany since 1st April 1976.
2 MARRIO
IMT See 27
DATE ..27/3(7.8
COL. .....Sw
VOL.
alls
201
9 lopies
Sant
to Hongkong