Written Answers
John Moore :{
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My Departmen subject to negation, to allocat on to the Camborne School
Written
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430 -AUGUST 1980 51
Written Answers
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Hermann Bondi, with the Government 1988. Hurd: In his reply of 19 May to Hermon all the report's specie SEP mendations, most of which are
continue its project on improving with Government thinking, "Ik fraCER
extracting heat from under comments will prove a useful contribRA.
rock.
ext stage will study methods of s granite at depths of 6,000 ft roject is successful it will be ep towards the widespread ex of geothermal energy in the Kingdom. The technology could ed in those areas where the rock ures are high enough to produce om which electricity could be
1.
rmal energy technology is stip ly stages, and the economics of this resource remain to be However, there is a very large of energy involved the granite in the South West contain the t of 6,000 million tonnes of coal would clearly be worthwhile to ven a fraction of such a resource
North Sea Oil
eet asked the Secretary of State by what is the position on the made by the European Com a oil policies. ato aspects of United Kingdom
avid Howell: My discussions Commission on the three aspects orth Sea oil policies on which ised queries the full and fair ty policy, the landing require.
the central management and rovision in our petroleum lic ve now been concluded. The
on has confirmed that in present nces they are satisfied with the ons I gave them of our policies dures on these issues.
Energy Conservation rman asked the Secretary of Energy what is his response to report of the Advisory Council y Conservation (energy paper
vid Howell: I have welcomed as a comprehensive and bal- view of energy conservation ince 1973, and a stimulating on to the development of future have written to the present of the council, Professor Sir
tion for the work of the reconstituted advisory council. I have placed a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH
AFFAIRS
Tehran (Visas)
Mr. William Wilson asked the Lord Privy Seal how many applications for visas to travel to the United Kingdom are the United awaiting processing in Kingdom Embassy in Tehran.
Mr. Hurd: About 100.
Mr. William Wilson asked the Lord
Ed EGIS
Tend the Member for Epping Biggs-Davison)—[Vol. 985, £30000 To
Friend described the position concerf our wish to re-estab- lish diplomatic relations with Albania. In the absence of such relations, the Government cannot actively promote cul- tural relations though they would have no objection to private initiatives to this end.
Mr. William Wilson asked the Lord
Privy Seal if, in view of recent evidence that the finding of the International Court of Justice in the Corfu Channel case in 1949 was based on errors of fact, he will waive the United Kingdom's claim against Albania under that judgment.
Mr. Hurd: We know of no convincing evidence that the International Court of
was based on errors of fact.
Privy Seal what is the waiting period Justice verdict in the Corfu Channel case between a visa being applied for in Tehran and being processed by the embassy staff.
Mr. Hurd: A completed visa applica- tion is processed on the same day that it is received.
Some 15,000 people, mainly private visitors, are awaiting interview. The em- bassy can interview about 100 applicants each day and appointments are now being given for May 1981. This is a substantial delay. But in present circumstances for obvious reasons we do not propose to increase the number fo visa officers at Her Majesty's Embassy in Tehran.
A small proportion of applications, of an urgent or compassionate nature, can Iranian spouses of United Kingdom be handled more quickly. These include citizens normally resident here; business visitors with close connections with British firms persons requiring urgent private medical treatment not available in Iran; students returning to their studies and other returning residents.
Albania
Mr. William Wilson asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) if he has any proposals to make to Albania for an improvement in the relations between Albania and the United Kingdom;
(2) if he has any proposals to lead to an improvement in cultural relations the United Kingdom and
between Albania.
47 2A 5
Hong Kong
Mr. Parry asked the Lord Privy Seal what representations the Hong Kong Government have received from trade unions in the Civil Service to set up an
independent arbitration body to deal with grading disputes.
:
Mr. Hurd The Hong Kong Govern- ment have received one letter from a staff union proposing the setting up of an independent arbitration board to deal with disputes between the Government and its employees. In addition, the Stand- ing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service, a non-govern- mental body, has received three submis- sions on the subject.
Mr. Parry asked the Lord Privy Seal how many disputes have taken place in the Hong Kong Civil Service during the past five years; and how many persons were dismissed or suspended during such disputes.
Mr. Hurd: During the past five years, 17 staff unions in the Hong Kong Civil Service have been involved in 21 disputes leading to some form of industrial action. On two occasions, 26 and 314 officers re- spectively were suspended from duty without pay. No officer has been dis- missed as a result of taking part in such action.
see
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