227
Written Answers
11 FEBRUARY
hospitals, in whole-time equivalent terms and per head of population; and what was the figure for February in each of the last seven years.
Mr. Mark Robinson: The required information is given in the table:
Consultants in Thoracic Medicine
1 Whole-time equivalents
Rate per
million population
3.6
1979
18.1
6.5
1980
14.1
5.1
1981
12.1
4.3
1982
10-1
1983
8.1
2.9
1984
6.3
2-2
1985
6.6
2.3
1986
24.8
317
As at September each year
2
provisional
3 Based on 1985 population estimates.
Capital and Improvement Grants
Mr. D. E. Thomas asked the Secretary of State for Wales what changes have been made to the rules regarding the payment of capital grants and improvement grants since 1979; and why changes were instituted.
Mr. Nicholas Edwards: I will write to the hon. Gentleman and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
ADAS
Mr. D. E. Thomas asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future of the Agriculture Development Advisory Service in Wales.
Mr. Nicholas Edwards: The Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) is a part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and operates in Wales as the agent of the Secretary of State for Wales. These arrangements will continue in future.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Hong Kong
Mr. Yeo asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the Sino-British agreement for the return of Hong Kong to Chinese rule in 1997 in the light of recent political events in China.
Mr. Renton: We have noted statements by Chinese officials that China's policies towards Hong Kong are unaffected by recent internal developments. We remain confident in the commitment of the Chinese Government to the full implementation of the Sino-British joint declaration on the future of Hong Kong.
Afghanistan
Mr. Greenway asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Soviet Union on Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.
DATE 13.09.87
116
COL. 227
VOL 110
& Lt
1987 Lo
RA
Written Answers
25
228
Mr. Eggar: We have taken every opportunity to see clarification of Soviet intentions and to emphasise the need for a genuine settlement to bring peace and freedom to Afghanistan and enable its people to determine their own future. I did so when I received a Supreme Soviet delegation on 3 February; so did Her Majesty's ambassador in Moscow on 29 January; so also did my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) with the Soviet ambassador on 20 January.
Mr. Teddy Taylor asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had recently with the Government of Pakistan with particular reference to the situation on the Afghanistan border and the provision of aid for refugees from Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar: Afghan refugees continue to flee to Pakistan. We remain in touch with the Pakistan Government on the subject of aid. My hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development, the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Patten), announced a further allocation of £3.5 million during his visit to Pakistan in November, as he told the House on 2 February.
Middle East
Mr. Ernie Ross asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to initiate any discussions within the European Economic Community about the role within an overall settlement in the middle east of the promotion of human and civil rights on the west bank and in the Gaza strip.
Mr. Renton: Developments in Arab territories occupied by Israel are kept under close review by Ministers of the Twelve.
We have made clear on many occasions to the Israeli Government that improvements in conditions in the occupied territories would improve the climate for peace negotiations.
Terrorism
Mr. Thurnham asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest progress on arrangements for the pooling of information about terrorism by European Governments.
Mr. Eggar: As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Bruinvels) on 12 January, we gave high priority to measures to combat terrorism during the United Kingdom presidency. Ministers met in the TREVI group on 25 September 1986 and 9 December 1986 and there was an informal meeting of Interior and Justice Ministers on 20 October 1986. The subject was also discussed by Foreign Ministers meeting in political co- operation and by Heads of State/Government at the European Council on 5 to 6 December.
These meetings resulted in enhanced practical co- operation between member states on counter-terrorism measures, including the setting up of a secure communications link between police forces of the member states; intensification of liaison between counter-terrorism experts and mutual exchanges of information about people excluded from the territory of any one member