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นุ่ม
Mr Stone Mr Morn's Mr Haswel Mr Paul
FROM:
D Holt
DATE:
CC:
Now faxes
for 13 Dcc
PS/Mr Maude
Parliamentary Relations Unit
23 November 1989
Private Secretary
PS/PUS
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Carrick
Miss Spencer HKD SEAD
24/
FAC WINTER SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES INQUIRY PLANNED FOR WEDNESDAY 6 DECEMBER AT 4.15
1.
2.
The FAC planned two evidence sessions for 6 December:
Aid to Eastern Europe - Mr Carrick is to give evidence.
Vietnamese Boat People Mr McLaren or Mr Gillmore had been asked to do so, but this week urgent overseas commitments, which will prevent them doing so, have been confirmed.
FAC Inquiries into Winter Supplementary Estimates are concerned with the detail of expenditure on a subject, and related accounting; not the policy. For that reason it has been the practice in recent years for the FAC to invite senior officials to give oral evidence, not Ministers.
The
3. We have discussed a variety of alternative timings with FAC Committee Clerk, so far without success. None work. Clerk has discussed the problem with Mr David Howell this evening. Mr Howell's firm view is that, in the circumstances the Estimates Inquiry on Vietnamese Boat People should be attached to the evidence session which Mr Maude is giving to the FAC on 13 December morning on the Government's interim response to the Committee's Hong Kong report. Mr Howell says this additional element will not detract from the main thrust of the evidence session: the future of Hong Kong, democratisation, nationality, right of abode, etc.
4. I should be grateful to know if the Minister can agree to this solution.
5.
The Aid to Eastern Europe session will stay in place for
the of 6 December.
6.
The Committee Clerk tells me also that the FAC are seeking to debate Vietnamese Boat People before Christmas on a half Estimates day.
Javie How.
D Holt