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Written Answers
10 JANUARY 1978
country to limit quantities if they consider this necessary, though the Diplomatic Service makes it own checks to prevent abuses.
Nuclear Test Ban
Mr. Frank Allaun asked the Secretary
of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs if he will make a statement report- ing on progress at the US-USSR-United Kingdom talks on a comprehensive nuclear test ban.
Mr. Luard: We have continued to make progress in the tripartite negotia- tions. But certain issues are still out- standing and we are working to narrow the differences. I believe that the nego- tiations can be brought to a successful conclusion.
Hong Kong
Mr. Hooley asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Govern- ment have any plans to issue leases on land in the New Territories (Hong Kong) beyond 1997; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Charles R. Morris: In the context of improving the services for hon. Mem- bers my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in the debate on the Gracious Speech оп 24th November 1976, announced the Government's latest steps towards more open government. As my bon. Friend will know, Government Departments have been advised to pub- lish as much factual and analytical material used as background to major policy issues as possible. They are also ready to respond positively and sympa. thetically to specific requests, both from hon. Members and others. for material of lesser importance.
Prison Officers
Sir George Young asked the Minister for the Civil Service, in view of the strong feelings within the Prison Officers'
Association as a result of the Govern- ment's failure to re-establish the Pay Research Unit in time for the coming year's wage settlement, what assurances he will give them that they will not be discriminated against as a result.
Mr. Charles R. Morris : I have nothing to add to the answers I gave on 21st Mr. Luard: We have no such plans November 1977.-Vol. 939, c. 1089- at present.
Mr. Hooley asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many death sentences im- posed by the courts in Hong Kong have been commuted (a) on the authority of the Governor, and (b) on the advice of Her Majesty's Government during the period 1970 to 1977.
Mr. Luard: (a) 78; (b) 1.
CIVIL SERVICE
Government (Publication of Information) Mr. Arthur Lewis asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, in view nof,the Government's declared policy of more open government and the amend- ment of the Official Secrets Act, pending the introduction of such amending legis- lation, he will make available to hon. Members on request all public informa- tion on matters affecting Government, other than that dealing with State security and the privacy of the individual.
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OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Expenditure
Mr. Hooley asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether there has been any further change in the arrange- ments to adjust the total of the aid pro- gramme between one year and another to allow for uncertainties in the rate of
Į disbursement.
Mr. Tomlinson: Following the intro- duction of cash limits the arrangements which were announced on 6th December 1974 in respect of possible over- or under- spending in the aid programme were sus- pended in 1976. It has now been decided that if the agreed total of the aid pro- gramme is under-spent in any one year by up to £15 million, such an under- spending may be added back to the An programme in the next year but one. excess would correspondingly be deducted from the programme for the next year but one.
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