Running file.
39
Written Answers
14 MARCH 1983
lorries should pay their full track costs from the date of their introduction in May, he will implement recom- mendation 3 of the Armitage report to ensure that other groups of heavy lorries, and in particular four-axled 32-5-tonne lorries, also pay their full track costs;
(2) what proposals he has to ensure that the overtaxing of smaller and lighter lorries should cease in accordance with recommendation 6 of the Armitage report.
Mrs. Chalker: The new duty structure for lorries introduced last October facilitates the better matching of taxation levels to the road costs of different groups of lorries. But decisions on motor taxation are for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to take as part of his Budget strategy.
Mr. Whitehead asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the calculation of the total of road track costs for 1983-84, he will include the public costs of road accidents and a national tax for damage to underground services in accordance with recommendations 4 and 5 of the Armitage report.
Mrs. Chalker: No. These recommendations, and other proposals which have been made by interested bodies for changing the present track cost methodology are being considered, but no decisions have yet been taken.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Nazi War Criminals
32. Mr. Winnick asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the steps taken to ensure that war-time and post-war agreements on bringing major Nazi war criminals to justice are still implemented.
Mr. Rifkind: The major Nazi war criminals were tried at Nuremburg. Martin Bormann is the only one unaccounted for. He is strongly presumed to have been killed in 1945. The only other major Nazi war criminal to whom wartime and post-war agreements still apply is Rudolf Hess, who is in Spandau prison.
South West Africa People's Organisation
Mr. Proctor asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts his Department has had with representatives of the South West Africa People's Organisation; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rifkind: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has periodic contact with representatives of the South West "Africa People ́s Organisation, both in London and through our Missions abroad. My hon. Friend the Member for Woking (MrOrstow) saw Mr. Sam Nujoma, President of TURNED IN 12 SWAPO on September last.
17 MAR 1983
-+KK 243|1
NO
#
CISTRY
Hong Kong
Mr. Arthur Lewis asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has yet reached conclusion of the future of Hong Kong; and if he will now make a statement on the discussions regarding this with the Government of the People's Republic of China.
Mr. Rifkind: I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove and Redditch, (Mr. Miller) on 9 March.-(Vol. 38, c. 433.]
20
20
Date :-
14/3/83
Column:- 39 40
Volume:- 39.
17
Written Answers Sot
40
United States of America (Ministerial Visit)
Mr. Arthur Lewis asked the Secretary of State fc Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will mak a statement on his recent visit to various cities of th United States of America; who accompanied him on thes visits; and what were the actual or estimated cos involved.
Mr Pym: I was in attendance on Her Majesty th Queen during her recent visit to the west coast of th United States and I accompanied her on her visits to Le Angeles and San Francisco. I addressed a private meetin of the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles; and ha separate talks in San Franciso with the United State Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury and th Secretary of Defence. I was accompanied throughout b my wife, two members of my private office and tw Special Branch officers. The estimated cost of the party travel and accommodation ashore is £14,400.
Vietnamese Refugees
Mr. Arnold asked the Secretatry of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the current policy towards Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.
Mr. Rifkind: There are 12,270 Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong currently awaiting resettlement overseas, of whom 3,595 are in closed and 8,675 in open, centres. We continue to support all efforts by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to arrange resettlement. Since 1975 Hong Kong has provided first asylum for more than 100,000 and permanently resettled 14,000 within its own community. We cannot expect Hong Kong to accept any more for resettlement.
Argentina (European Citizens)
Sir Bernard Braine asked the Secretary of State fr Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his rep to the hon. Member for Essex, South East on 23 February Official Report, c. 459, if European Community countri will take co-ordinated action against those responsible f the arrest, imprisonment without trial, torture ar probable murder of such persons.
Mr. Rifkind: It is for the Argentine Government take action against those responsible. We believe that th lines of approach described by my hon. Friend the Memb for Woking (Mr. Onslow) in his reply of 23 Februar continue to offer the best hope of encouraging them to d
So.
Hong Kong (Students)
Mr. Hooley asked the Secretary of State for Foreig and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate has been mad of the number of Hong Kong students who will be finance in 1983-84 under the new shared funding scheme assuming that the British contribution will be fixed at £1- million.
Mr. Rifkind: According to the Hong Kon Government's estimate in 1982, about 1,700 student might be financed in 1983-84 under the new arrangements
Mr. Hooley asked the Secretary of State for Foreig; and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate has been mad、