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the commitment which member states entered into in the Stuttgart declaration of 19 June 1983. The declaration stated:
"European Union is being achieved by deepening and broadening the scope of European activities so that they coherently cover, albeit on a variety of legal bases, a growing proportion of member states' mutual relations and of their external relations".
Golden Temple, Amritsar
Mr. Watts asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the recent disturbances at the Golden Temple in Amritsar; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar: Five Sikhs, who had led an occupation of the Golden Temple since January, declared the "independence" of "Khalistan" on 29 April. Their occupation was terminated by the Punjab police and Indian paramilitary forces on 30 April. Casualties and damage are reported to have been minimal.
Transport Links, China
Dr. Marek asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek the extension of the study of new transport links between Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long, Tai Po and Yuen Long, and Sheung Shui and Yuen Long to include consideration of those links being built as extensions of the Kowloon- Canton railway system or the mass transit railway system as well as the proposed light rail transit system, and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Renton: The transport study in question, which is being undertaken by the Kowloon-Canton railway corporation, will study only light rail transit extensions. However, if the patronage forecasts indicate that a heavy rail extension may be more suitable, the corporation will not ignore that conclusion. At the same time, the mass transit railway corporation is also studying the alternative of a mass transit railway extension from Tsuen Wan to Yuen Long.
These matters are totally within the competence of the Hong Kong Government, which will in due course evaluate all options before making a decision.
WEU (Terrorism)
Sir Anthony Grant asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he envisages for the Western European Union in the fight against terrorism; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Renton: At Venice on 29-30 April, Foreign and Defence Ministers of the Western European Union underlined the need to implement the measures agreed upon by the countries of Western Europe to combat terrorism. This action is being co-ordinated amongst the Twelve. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in her reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Murphy) on 8 May, this forum includes all WEU member states and ensures the widest possible co- ordination of the European response to terrorism.
Chemical Weapons
Mr. Strang asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response
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Government have made to the latest Union of Soviet Socialist Republic's proposals with regard to on site inspection of the destruction of chemical weapons plants in the event of a chemical weapons ban.
Mr. Renton: We hope that recent Soviet comments on verification may represent a small though useful step. But the Soviet Union remains silent on the details of other crucial verification issues, such as the non-production of chemical weapons in the civil chemical industry and inspection on challenge. We will be addressing these and other issues with the Soviet Union when the negotiations for a verifiable global ban on chemical weapons at the conference on disarmament resume on 10 June.
Mr. Strang asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the production of chemical weaponss, or chemical weapon components, by British firms.
Mr. Renton: We attach a high priority to the agreement of a global and verifiable ban on all chemical weapons, which we believe will need to include controls on the manufacture of certain chemicals in civil industry. The United Kingdom abandoned its chemical warfare capability in the 1950s. Following the use of chemical weapons in the Gulf conflict, controls have been imposed on the export of certain civil chemicals which could be used in the manufacture of lethal chemical agents.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Kidnap Insurance
Mr. Campbell-Savours asked the Lord Privy Seal, pursuant to the answer of 1 May, Official Report column 1107, concerning kidnap insurance, if he will now make a statement on his investigation into this matter.
Mr. Biffen: The incident referred to was a matter for the Irish authorities to deal with. I do, however, understand the hon. Member's general concern about kidnap ransom insurance and the possibility that terrorists may gain funds from the payment of extortion demands. These issues are being carefully considered by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.
ENVIRONMENT
Nuclear Waste
Mr. Austin Mitchell asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of transporting nuclear waste to each of the four proposed nuclear waste sites.
Mr. Waldegrave: The overall cost of land transport of low level radioactive waste to any of the proposed disposal sites would be about £30 million (1985 values) over the period to 2030. Further details are given in “Assessment of Best Practicable Environtal Options for Management of Low and Intermediate Level Solid Radioactive Wastes", HMSO, March 1986.
Mr. Austin Mitchell asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require local authorities within whose areas nuclear dumps may be located, to monitor radiation levels at the site,
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