109
Written Answers
13 MAY 1992
Written Answers
110
111
LORD CHANCELLOR
Mr. Kurt Klebeck
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary Lord Chancellor's Department if the Lord Chancellor will release records held in the public record offices relating to the conduct of Herr Kurt Klebeck in Alderney during the 1939-45 war; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor: Any records in the Public Records Office relating to the occupation of the Channel Islands during the Second World War which have been closed for longer than thirty years, under the arrangements set out in paragraph 25 to 27 of the 1982 White Paper, “Modern Public Records" (Cmnd. 8531), will be released at the appropriate time. It has been the practice of successive administrations not to reveal details of the contents of specific withheld records. Questions of access to withheld records are a matter for the department of origin.
Law of Privity
Mr. Couchman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he plans to reform the principle of the law of privity as it affects commercial leasehold property; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor: The Lord Chancellor is actively considering the report of the Law Commission, "Landlord and Tenant Law: Privity of Contract and Estate" (Law Com. 174) which recommended modifications to the present law under which original parties to a lease normally remain liable to perform the covenants thereunder for the whole of the lease term, notwithstand- ing that they may have parted with all interest in the property. He hopes to be able to make an announcement about this report in the near future.
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
Newspapers
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission how many copies of (a) the London Evening Standard and (b) The Sun are purchased for the House each day.
Mr. Beith: I shall arrange for the hon. Member to be supplied with this information.
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission how much was spent on providing national and local newspapers for hon. Members and Officers in each of the last two years.
Mr. Beith: The total annual cost of newspapers supplied through the Serjeant at Arms Department and by the Library during the financial years 1990-91 and 1991-92 was £46,847 and £56,831, respectively.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Slovenia
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to extend the know-how fund to the independent republic of Slovenia.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: This is under active consideration.
Moldova
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any application for the establishment of diplomatic relations and request to benefit from the know-how fund has been received from the Republic of Moldova; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We have had diplomatic relations with Moldova since 17 January. The Moldovan Government has asked about the possibility of support from the know how fund. We have indicated that we would respond to specific requests for support for projects in Moldova, and have invited proposals. No applications have been received to date for projects in Moldova.
Diplomatic Relations
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries represented at the United Nations with whom the United Kingdom does not have diplomatic relations.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The United Kingdom has no diplomatic relations with the following members of the United Nations:
Bhutan
Democratic People's Republic of Korea Iraq Libya
Ceremonial Dress
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by his Department in each of the last three years on the provision of ceremonial dress for ambassadors, high commissioners, governors and other diplomatic represen- tatives overseas.
Mr. Goodlad: The figures are:
1989-90 1990-91
1991-92
£
12,791
13,151
16,077
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by his Department on (a) bird feathers, (b) swords and (c) gold braid in each of the last three years.
Mr. Goodlad: The information requested is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate
cost.
Governor of Hong Kong
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the total cost of equipping the new Governor of Hong Kong with ceremonial dress; and what items are involved.
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59 CW