3.32 pm
Business of the House
Mr. Bruce Grocott (The Wrekin): May I ask the Leader of the House to state the business for next week?
The Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Sir Geoffrey Howe): The business for next week will be as follows:
MONDAY 5 MARCH-Remaining stages of the Aviation and Maritime Security Bill.
Motion on the Pneumoconiosis Etc. (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations
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The Chairman of Ways and Means has named opposed private business for consideration at seven o'clock, '
TUESDAY 6 MARCH-Opposition Day (10th Allotted Day). There will be a debate on an Opposition motion entitled "The Balance of Payments Deficit, High Interest Rates and the Impact on Industry".
Motion on the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 (Continuance) Order
WEDNESDAY 7 MARCH-Debate on the first report Session 1989-90 of the Select Committee on Members' Interests (HC 135).
THURSDAY 8 MARCH-Second Reading of the Food Safety Bill [Lords].
FRIDAY 9 MARCH-Private Members' Bills.
MONDAY 12 MARCH-Until about seven o'clock motion on the Northern Ireland (Emergency and Prevention of Terrrorism Provisions) (Continuance) Order.
Afterwards, motion on the Appropriation (Northern Ireland) Order.
Motion on the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order which is a consolidation measure.
Mr. John Marshall (Hendon, South): It is now two and a half months since the House debated war crimes and voted in favour of the principle of legislation. Will my right hon. and learned Friend assure the House that a Bill will be introduced in the current Session of Parliament?
Sir Geoffrey Howe: As I have told my hon. Friend on more than one occasion, the House expressed a clear view in favour of war crimes legislation and the Government are considering the form that legislation might take, in the light of the views expressed in both Houses. I hope that my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary will be able to make an announcement shortly.
Mr. Andrew MacKay (Berkshire, East): Does my right hon. and learnd Friend recall that for a long time, various Opposition Members have been calling for a debate on central America? Those calls seem to have disappeared in the past two days, perhaps as a result of the free and democratic elections on Sunday. Would not it be a good idea to have a debate shortly so that we can congratulate the winner of the presidential election and also the people of Nicaragua on throwing out the Left-wing Marxist Government, who were very much friends of Labour Members?
Sir Geoffrey Howe: I find it easier to agree with the observations of the undecorated MacKay than the decorated MacKay of the two who have just spoken. I agree with my hon. Friend that the result of the Nicaraguan elections entirely vindicates the position adopted by this Government and that we should congratulate the newly elected President of Nicaragua on her success.
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Mr. Tony Banks (Newham, North-West): I shall gladly enter the list in defence of the Sandinistas any day on which the Leader of the House wants to have an election. Sandino lives! I wear my badge with pride.
I want to ask the Leader of the House a question about elephant ivory for the simple reason that he gave me an assurance that all the Hong Kong ivory stock was legally acquired. Is he aware that I have now had a letter from the director of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department in Hong Kong which makes it clear that only 474 tonnes out of the 670 tonnes carries CITES certificates? In other words, about 200 tonnes of that elephant ivory was obtained illegally. Will he arrange for an urgent statement by the Foreign Office and an early debate so that we can discuss the discrepancies in the answer given from the Dispatch Box?
Sir Geoffrey Howe: The hon. Gentleman is nothing if not tenancious in his pursuit of this cause. As I said last week and perhaps the week before and the week before that-if he has any evidence on the matter, let him produce it for the Government and the appropriate authorities, who will investigate it.
I noted the hon. Gentleman's proud badge brandishing. He is renowned as one of the most tenancious defenders of lost causes, and long may he remain so.
Mr. Richard Shepherd (Aldridge-Brownhills): Is not there an inconsistency in that the Government and the House support and cheer the advance of democracy in eastern European countries, for which we have no constitutional responsibility, and yet deny it in Hong Kong, where we have constitutional responsibility? Is not it, therefore, important for the Government urgently, before we publish the Bill that is expected to come before the House, to give us a statement on why people in Hong Kong should be denied democracy or why they are unsuitable for democracy?
Sir Geoffrey Howe: Few issues have been more frequently and more fully discussed in the House than the issue raised by my hon. Friend. The background was set out most fully in a letter from my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary which was sent to all parliamentary colleagues as recently as 9 February.
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