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Written Answers
11 MARCH 1982
Stading Advisory Commission on Human Rights
(Report)
Dr. Mawhinney asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has received the seventh annual report of the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Prior: The Report has been published today and copies have been laid before Parliament. It covers the period from 1 November 1980 to 31 October 1981.
The Report makes recommendations and observations on the Representation of the People Act 1981. It also contains substantial sections on the Commission's work between 1973 and 1981 and its response to the Labour Party Study Group on Northern Ireland. Other matters included in the Report which the Commission have considered are consultation with the Government on legislation, Emergency Legislation, the disabled, and the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1976.
I should like to take the opportunity to thank the Commission for their efforts during the year covered by the Report.
INDUSTRY
Noise and Hearing Protection
Mr. Leighton asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will introduce legislation to enable investment grants to be paid to employers to cover a proportion of the costs of reducing the level of noise in the workplace.
Mr. MacGregor: I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
South Africa
Mr. Arthur Lewis asked the Lord Privy Seal to what extent the South African Government have any diplomatic representation and offices in the United Kingdom; and to what extent any of the officials from his Department liaise with any representatives from that Government.
Mr. Hurd: The South African Government maintain a diplomatic mission and a consulate-general's office in London and a consulate-general's office in Glasgow. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has normal contacts with them.
Hong Kong
Mr. Parry asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish the names of hon. Members who have visited Hong Kong at the invitation of the Hong Kong Government over the past three years; and if he will identify the number of occasions in respect of each hon. Member.
Mr. Hurd: The following right hon. and hon. Members have each visited Hong Kong once since January 1979 at the Hong Kong Government's invitation:
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Cardiff, West (Mr. Thomas) Blaby (Mr. Lawson) Westmorland (Mr. Jopling) City of Chester (Mr. Morrison) Bath (Mr. Patten) Howden (Sir P. Bryan) Ripon (Dr. Hampson) Wirral (Mr. Hunt) Hove (Mr. Sainsbury) Maldon (Mr. Wakeham) Wycombe (Mr. Whitney)
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Stoke-on-Trent, South
(Mr. Ashley) Manchester, Wythenshawe
(Mr. Morris) Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles
(Mr. Steel)
Stepney and Poplar (Mr. Shore) Merthyr Tydfil (Mr. Rowlands) Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) Bradford, West (Mr. Lyons)
Mr. Parry asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the cost to the Hong Kong taxpayer of the cost of air travel, hotel charges and food and entertainment to hon. Members who have visited the colony over the past three years at the invitation of the Hong Kong Government. Hen
Mr. Hurd: Directly chargeable costs for the three years including hospitality offered to those who visited Hong Kong privately, was Hong Kong $402,000, equivalent to £37,570 at current conversion rates.
Middle East
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Mr. Marlow asked the Lord Privy Seal whether President Mitterrand's requirements for a Palestinian State expressed in Jerusalem is consistent with the European initiative and thus with United Kingdom policy in the Middle East.
Mr. Hurd: The position set out in the Venice declaration is that the Palestinian people must be placed in a position, within the framework of a comprehensive peace settlement, to exercise fully their right to self- determination. This logically includes the right to a State if that is what the Palestinians determine for themselves;- and we see no inconsistency between this and President Mitterand's remarks in the Knesset.
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Social Science Research Council
Mr. Craigen asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of the Social Science Research Council and its funding.
Mr. William Shelton: As my right hon. Friend said in answer to a question by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on 22 December 1981, he has asked Lord Rothschild to conduct an independent review of the work of the Social Science Research Council. That review is now in progress. The report of the review will be published later this year and my right hon. Friend intends to consider its findings and recommendations in the light of such public comments as may then emerge. The council's allocation from the science budget for 1982-83 is £20-9 million-as already stated by my right hon. Friend in answer to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn and Hatfield (Mr. Murphy) on 23 December 1981. Decisions on public expenditure for the years beyond 1982-83 have not yet been made.
Religious Education
Mr. St. John-Stevas asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many religious education specialists he expects to come into the schools each year
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.