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programme of technical co-operation which concentrates on education. The Commonwealth Development Corporation and British voluntary agencies, through the joint funding scheme, can also operate in Ethiopia with support from the aid programme. British funds are also, of course, channelled through the European Community, which has a substantial development programme in Ethiopia.
Mr. Randall asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of the assessments by (a) the ambassador and (b) the international and voluntary organisations on the needs and on the possibilities for effective assistance against famine in Ethiopia.
Mr. Raison: Communications with our ambassador are confidential, but we regularly receive and respond to his recommendations on what we ought to supply. It is for the organisations that the hon. Member has in mind to decide whether or not to publish their assessments.
St. Helena
Dr. Marek asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will send the report on St. Helena by Sir Neil Marten to the island Governor so that it can be made available to members of the Legislative Council.
Mr. Raison: No. Sir Neil Marten visited St. Helena as my personal representative and therefore reported personally to me.
Mr. Nellist asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the amount of food aid from the United Kingdom to Ethiopia fell from £5,194,000 in 1982 to £2,510,000 in 1983.
Mr. Raison: The figures quoted reflect the level of calls on our bilateral food aid by the world food programme for use in development projects in Ethiopia, as well as 1,500 tonnes of cereals supplied direct in 1982. The figures do not include food aid provided by the European Community.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
East Germany (Property Claims)
Mr. Nicholas Brown asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of the recent accord between the East German Government and the Government of Finland in respect of payments by the East German Government to Finnish subjects who owned property in East Germany in 1945, he will take further steps to press the claims of British nationals with similar claims.
Mr. Renton: We understand that the agreement between Finland and the German Democratic Republic which was initialled on 3 October 1984 dealt with some 30 claims which Finnish citizens had made against the German Democratic Republic. We have held six rounds of detailed talks with the East German authorities since. 1980 on the more than 300 British claims against the German Democratic Republic. The East German authorities have recently accepted our invitation to a
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plenary session of discussions on these claims in the first half of next year. We trust that this will contribute to an early settlement of the claims.
MKK 0113
Falkland Islands'
Mr. Dalyell asked the Secretary 334oreign
and Commonwealth Affairs what is the annual average wage of a farm worker in the Falkland Islands.
Mr. Renton: The minimum basic_monthly wage- based on a 40-hout week — as agreed between the Falkland Islands Sheep Owners Association and the General Employees Union in October 1984 is as follows:
Minimum Basic Wage
1. Foreman
2. Head Shepherd (outside house) 3. Head Shepherd (settlement)
£
311-13
299.47
283-38
4. Handyman
283.38
5. Mechanic
283.38
6. Cook
290-72
7. Cowman/Gardener
276.04
8. Shepherd (outside house)
271-71
9. Shepherd General
254-19
250-88
255.44
257.84
240.97
10. Trainee Shepherd 11. Tractor driver
12. Leading hand (labourer)
13. Farm Labourer (18)
Based on these figures the average annual wage is £3,284-80. In addition, long service awards are paid and employees on West Falkland receive a special allowance of £7.50 per month. There are additional perquisites including, according to employers, free housing, peat, meat and milk worth approximately £2,000 annually. There is also a quarterly cost of living review.
Mr. John Sprange
Mr. Dobson asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons charges were brought against a British citizen, John Sprange, by the Berlin authorities for bringing a military device, namely a balloon, into Berlin.
Mr. Renton: The Berlin prosecutor-representing the Berlin legal authorities brought charges against Mr. Sprange because he had reason to believe that Mr. Sprange had on 28 August 1983, infringed the law applicable in Berlin; specifically Allied Control Council Law 43. The case was heard by the Berlin court on 8 November. Mr. Sprange was fined 100 deutschmarks.
Hong Kong
Dr. Marek asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he intends to take to bring about direct election to the Legislative Council in Hong Kong; and when he expects the first directly elected member to sit on the Council.
Mr. Luce: On 21 November the Hong Kong Government will publish a White Paper on the further development of representative government in Hong Kong. This will take into account public comment in Hong Kong on the proposals contained in the Green Paper which was published there on 18 July. It would be inappropriate to comment on such matters before the White Paper has been published.
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