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25 FEBRUARY 1982
President, members of his Government and represen- atives of political parties. Local transport will be provided. We are currently in touch with the Government about other arrangements.
Mr. Clinton Davis asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will name the persons to be sent by Her Majesty's Government to observe the election in El Salvador on 28 March and state their qualifications with regard to the practice and law relating to elections.
Mr. Luce: The observers have not yet been selected. Their names will be announced later.
Mr. Clinton Davis asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will state in the Official Report the countries which have decided to send observers to the elections in El Salvador on 28 March, those which have declined an invitation to do so, and those which have not yet decided.
Mr. Luce: We understand the Salvadorean Government have approached over 60 Governments. We are not in a position to list those who have accepted or refused the invitation, or have yet to make up their minds.
Mr. Clinton Davis asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has had any discussions with other EEC Governments concerning the invitation received from the Government of El Salvador to send observers to the election to be held in that country on 28 March; and if he will make a
statement.
Mr. Luce: The subject has been discussed with our European Community partners, not all of whom have been invited to send observers. There was no question therefore of a European Community consensus.
Passports
Mr. Eldon Griffiths asked the Lord Privy Seal why it was decided to require all applicants for passports to state their height in metres and centimetres instead of feet and inches; if, in imposing this rule, the unfamiliarity with the metric system of numerous immigration officers in English-speaking countries where British citizens travel was taken into account; and for what reason applicants may not identify their height by measurements that are both lawful and generally familiar in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Luce: As it had been Government policy since 1950 gradually to switch to metric units, a decision to show the holder's height in a passport in metres rather than feet and inches was made in 1975. However, passport application forms still include a conversion table.
The majority of other countries are accustomed to metric measurements and passport holders have not encountered any difficulties at frontier crossings as a result of the change.
It would cause confusion to show in a passport the holder's height in both metric and imperial measurements.
Poland
Mr. Nicholas Winterton asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in the light of the announcement by the Polish authorities that a further 3,500 people have been arrested for violation of martial law regulations, Her Majesty's Government have any plans to make further representation to the Polish Government; and whether he is considering
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any further measures or sanctions against the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Poland, in view of this development HIK 345/7
RECEIVED REGISTRY NO. 1
Mr. Humphrey Atkins;, The Polish authorities are well aware that the Western measures against Poland and the Soviet Union have been taken, because of the imposition of martial law which we deplore. We do not plan to announce any further measures at present.
No
Af 913
сче
913
Ms Christine Vertucci
Mr. Parry asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list in the Official Report the names of those persons and organisations who have made representations to the Governor of Hong Kong concerning the case of Ms Christine Vertucci.
Mr. Humphrey Atkins: I have placed a copy of the list in the Library of the House.
Mr. Parry asked the Lord Privy Seal what representations the Governor of Hong Kong has received from the Asia Monitor Resource Centre and the Kwun Tong Inquiry Service concerning Ms Christine Vertucci; and if he will set out the terms of such representations.
Mr. Humphrey Atkins: The Governor has received written representations from the Asia Monitor Resource Centre and the Kwun Tong Inquiry Service supporting Ms Vertucci's appeal against the refusal of her request for an extension of stay. It is not the practice of the Hong Kong Government to disclose the specific terms of such representations.
Mr. Parry asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list in the Official Report the names of person and organisations who have made representations to him concerning Ms Christine Vertucci.
Mr. Humphrey Atkins: I have received one letter concerning Ms Vertucci's case and that was from the hon. Member.
Great Britain-USSR Association
Mr. Wilkinson asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides a grant to the Great Britain-USSR Association; and, if so, how much it amounts to in the current year and how much it amounted to in each of the last five financial years.
Mr. Luce: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides a grant-in-aid to the Great Britain-USSR Association. The amounts for the current financial year and the five previous years are:
£
1981-82
85,400
1980-81
75,554
1979-80
67,265
1978-79
67,231
1977-78
47,000
1976-77
43,000
DATE .25.2-82
COL.-
4.60 +8
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