51
(だい)
Written Answers
HKD 384/1 Written Answers
776
Pt. ge to Mr Parker, Assist. Legal Adviser
My Yoghmaurian, SEAD My underwood, CT Dira. HQQAG.
Thursday, 30th January 1992
IRAN: TANKS
REC
3/2/92
130 JANUARY 1992]
+ pa.
The Earl of Munster asked Her Majesty
Government:
Whether they have been approached, either by the Iranian Government or through unofficial channels, to sell tanks to Iran.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness): Her Majesty's Government have not been approached by the Iranians on this matter since the Iranian revolution in 1979.
SECFORMER SOVIET NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
оп
Whether the discussions being carried between the United States and the former Soviet Union on the subject of the destruction of nuclear weapons and nuclear charges are fully co-ordinated with NATO, and if not, they will ensure that they are in future, and that the IAEA (on behalf of the United Nations) are given a prime monitoring role in the destruction.
The Earl of Caithness: NATO is fully involved in considering how the West might help with the dismantling of former Soviet nuclear weapons. The need for an international body to monitor destruction of the weapons will be addressed in this context.
НК
MR. LORRAIN OSMAN
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will place in the Library of the House of Lords copies of all cables, letters, file notes and other documents known to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in which the name of Mr. Lorrain Osman is mentioned.
The Earl of Caithness: Lorrain Osman is a Malaysian citizen who has been in custody in the United Kingdom since 6th December 1985, facing a request for extradition to Hong Kong on a number of serious charges there involving conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to steal, bribery, theft and false accounting arising out of dealings amounting to approximately 800 million US dollars of a subsidiary of a major Malaysian bank. On 1st June 1987 he was committed to custody by the Chief Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate for surrender. Mr. Osman has made six applications for a writ of habeas corpus by way of appeal against this decision and has made two applications to the European Commission of Human Rights. All have failed. The sixth application for habeas corpus was refused by the Divisional Court on 14th November 1991. He has petitioned the House of Lords for leave to appeal against that decision. He lodged a seventh application for habeas corpus on 28th
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Written Answers
Mr Marris
(S)
WA 52
January. It would not be in the public interest to disclose documents concerning the international relations of the United Kingdom.
FORMER SOVIET UNION: MILITARY ATTACHE
EASTERN
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many diplomats who now represent member states of the former Soviet Union in Britain are military attaches and which states do they represent, and in what numbers.
The Earl of Caithness: One diplomat representing the Russian Federation is accredited as military attache. No other member states are represented.
GAS SUPPLY SYSTEMS: PIPE-LINES ACT
Lord Cochrane of Cults asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why it was considered necessary to apply the Pipelines Act 1962 to local low pressure gas supply systems after the passing of the Gas Act 1986 but not before.
Lord Cavendish of Furness: Section 2 of the Pipe-lines Act 1962 requires pipeline system owners to notify new pipelines 10 miles long or less to the Secretary of State for Energy. The section has always applied to local low pressure gas supply systems. Responsibility rests with pipeline owners to notify the Secretary of State and the first notification in respect of a low pressure system was received in 1986.
MOD FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDS:
FUNDING
Lord Teviot asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Ministry of Defence makes any contribution to the costs incurred by the Imperial War Museum in housing the film (including video) and photographic records of the Ministry.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (The Earl of Arran): The Imperial War Museum is funded through the Office of Arts and Libraries. The Ministry of Defence makes no contribution to the costs incurred by the museum in housing the film (including video) and photographic records of the Ministry. Such costs are the direct responsibility of the museum itself, as the approved place of deposit for these records under Section 4.1 of the Public Records Act of 1958.
MOD FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDS: CATALOGUE
Lord Teviot asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the main historical film (including video) and photographic records of the Ministry of Defence held by the Imperial War Museum have been catalogued.
The Earl of Arran: The Imperial War Museum has an ongoing cataloguing programme for the main