261
HKB 020/14
Written Answers
9 JUNE 1989
would depend greatly upon progress in that country's fulfilment of its CSCE commitments, particularly on human rights. We shall continue to encourage such
progress.
Nelson Mandela
SAJD
Mr. John Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on any diplomatic efforts his Department are pursuing to secure the release of Nelson Mandela.
Mrs. Chalker: We continue to urge the South African Government to release, immediately and unconditionally, Mr. Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners.
BBC World Service
INF.
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of funding the British Broadcasting Corporation world service has received in real terms in each of the last 15 years.
Mr. Eggar: The total grants-in-aid of the BBC world service in the last 15 years, expressed in cash terms and at 1988-89 prices were as follows:
1 Estimate.
1988-89
prices
Cash terms
£ million
£ million
1975-76
27.1
84.9
1976-77
30.8
85.1
1977-78
34.0
82.7
1978-79
37.2
81.4
1979-80
42.9
80-7
1980-81
54.9
87.1
1981-82
62.8
90.7
1982-83
70-9
95.5
1983-84
77.6
100.0
1984-85
81.0
99.5
1985-86
90.0
104-8
1986-87
98.9
111-4
1987-88
97.9
105-0
1988-89
114.5
114-5
1989-90
1120.1
1113.9
Note: Figures for 1988-89 and 1989-90 exclude provision for FCO-BBC relay stations contract previously funded separately from grants-in-aid: £5-6 million in 1988-89, £5-9 million in 1989-90.
Egypt
NENAD
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received any reports of human rights violations by law enforcement officials in Egypt; and if he will make a
statement.
Mr. Waldegrave: We are aware of the allegations in Amnesty International's recent report; and naturally concerned at any alleged abuses of human rights, wherever they occur.
Nuclear Arms
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the proliferation of ballistic missiles in Third world countries; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave: We believe that the proliferation of ballistic missiles in Third world countries can have a
Written Answers
Vol. 154
до
262
seriously destabilising effect, particularly in areas of regional tension. As a founder member of the missile technology control region (MTCR), we have adopted guidelines to control the transfer of equipment and technology. When the MTCR was established in April 1987, the partners urged all states to adopt the guidelines of the regime.
Iran
MED
Mr. Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will express sympathy to the people of Iran on the death of their nation's spiritual leader; and if Her Majesty's Government sought to be represented at the funeral.
Mr. Waldegrave: No, in both cases.
China
FED
Mr. Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will protest to the Government of China about the killing of civilians; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement that my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State made in the House on 6 June about developments in China.
Katyn Massacre
EED
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will initiate talks with Polish and Soviet Governments on the Katyn massacre; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave: We see no need to initiate talks. We are following developments closely. We urge the Soviet Union to help establish the facts.
British Travellers Abroad
Cons.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what services are made available by his Department to British travellers abroad.
Mr. Eggar: Her Majesty's embassies, high commissions and consulates around the world make available a range of statutory and non-statutory consular services to British travellers. Statutory functions include:
the registration of births and deaths
the solemnisation and registration of marriages the performance of notarial acts
the servicing of documents and taking of evidence duties under the Merchant Shipping Acts.
Non-Statutory functions include:
the protection of British nationals and British institutions, including assistance in cases of death, illness, arrest, proposed deportation, etc.
the relief and repatriation of distressed British
nationals, as a last resort
the maintenance of close and good relations with the
British community
the issue of passports.
HRD.
FE
Lee Chuk Yan
Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government about the detention of Lee Chuk Yan.
134 CW71/14 Job 4-4