637
Written Answers
3 FEBRUARY 1988
Л
Written Answers
علی
2
RA
638
Namibia
43. Ms. Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to secure South Africa's compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 601 on Namibia, and the early implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 435; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Chalker: We have taken every opportunity, both publicly and in private, to urge on the South African Government the pressing need for them to withdraw from Namibia and allow the early implementation of Security Council resolution 435.
76. Mr. Darling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last conveyed to the South African Government Her Majesty's Government's demand for South African withdrawal from Namibia; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Chalker: We take every opportunity, both publicly and in private, to urge on the South African Government the pressing need for them to withdraw from Namibia and allow free and fair elections in accordance with the United Nations plan for Namibian independence.
Anglo-Japanese Relations
47. Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-Japanese relations.
Mr. Eggar: Relations are good and friendly. During my right hon. and learned Friend's recent visit to Japan he and Foreign Minister Uno reaffirmed both Governments' commitment to building and strengthening our mutually beneficial partnership.
Hong Kong
48. Mr. Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Governor of Hong Kong and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Eggar: My right hon. and learned Friend last met the Governor on 26 October last year. Their discussions reviewed the whole range of current issues involving Hong Kong. Such meetings play an important part in our close and regular consultations with Hong Kong.
57. Mr. Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the introduction of greater democracy in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar: My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations on this subject from a variety of sources in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, covering a range of opinions. These have been carefully considered and will be taken fully into account in the decisions which will be announced in the Hong Kong Government's White Paper in February.
British Citizens (Overseas Assistance)
49. Mr. Devlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are taking to ensure that adequate help is given to British citizens abroad in genuine distress.
Mr. Eggar: Her Majesty's consular staff overseas make every effort to give prompt, sympathetic and effective advice and whatever help they properly can to distressed British nationals seeking assistance.
Demand for consular services continues to rise sharply with nearly 27 million people travelling abroad from the United Kingdom in 1987 compared with only 5.5 million 20 years ago. Both procedures and staffing are kept under constant review to ensure the optimum use of available resources.
The aim of our public education activities, including the wide distribution of the consular leaflet "Get It Right Before You Go", is to explain what consuls can and cannot do and to encourage self-help, wherever possible, so as to enable consular staff to concentrate on cases of genuine distress.
European Parliament (Electoral System)
50. Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the progress which has been made towards the establishment of a uniform electoral system for the European Parliament in time for the 1989 elections.
Mrs. Chalker: Discussion has so far produced no agreement among the member states of the European Community on a uniform electoral procedure.
PLO
52. Mr. McAvoy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold an official meeting with the London representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to discuss the recent development of Palestine Liberation Organisation policy on the recognition of Israel; and if he will make a
statement.
Mr. Mellor: No.
Common Agricultural Policy
53. Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government will take steps to ensure that there is a thorough reform of the common agricultural policy before any further money is provided for the European Community.
Mrs. Chalker: I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Tuesday 8 December, at column 167, following the European Council.
Ministerial Visits (Central America)
54. Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when was the last visit by a Minister of Her Majesty's Government to (a) Costa Rica, (b) El Salvador, (c) Guatemala, (d) Honduras and (e) Nicaragua.
Mr. Eggar: Baroness Young the then Minister of State. Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visited Costa Rica in January 1986 and Guatemala in February 1987. There have been no ministerial visits to Honduras, El Salvador or Nicaragua in recent years.
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