TNAG-1295-FCO40-1650-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1984 — Page 106

23 JULY 1984

~Staff

1978-79

1979-80 CENED

232,318

18

HY

283,122

16

1980-81

3984081084

16

1981-82

16

1982-83 DU

LIFEGIST:13

336,018

276,590

These figures cover basic staff costs, common Services and accommodation. They do not include expenditure on travel and publications which for the years before 1983-84 could be identified only at disproportionate cost.

Gibraltar-Spain (Cross-border Relations)

Mr. John David Taylor asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, with reference to the Fontainebleau EEC agreement to expedite the accession of Spain to membership of the EEC, any progress has been made towards the establishment of normality in cross-border relations between Gibraltar and Spain.

Mr. Whitney: We welcome the impetus given by the Fontainebleau agreement to the accession negotiations with Spain and Portugal. This gives added urgency to our discussions with the Spanish authorities over outstanding problems relating to Gibraltar in the Community context, and my right hon. and learned Friend expects to see the Spanish Foreign Minister next in September. We continue to work for the earliest normalisation of relations in the Gibraltar area.

Hong Kong

Mr. Skeet asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Unofficial Members of the Hong Kong Executive and Legislative Councils about the possible conflict between the grant of limited rights under the British Nationality Act 1981 to Hong Kong citizens and the rejection of dual nationality under article 3 of the Chinese nationality law of 10 September 1980.

Mr. Luce: It would not be proper for me to comment on the discussions my right hon. and learned Friend has had with Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils. But I can confirm that the question of nationality is under discussion with the Chinese in the context of the negotiations about the future of Hong Kong.

Falkland Islands

Mr. Dalyell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many records relating to the Falkland Islands are withheld from the public domain under section (5)(1) of the Public Records Act 1958.

Mr. Whitney: The information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Dalyell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is having discussions through third parties with the Argentine Government about the permanent establishment of fishery protection vessels round the Falklands.

Mr. Whitney: No.

Mr. Dalyell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reply he has had from the

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Written Answers

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European Community and its presidency about the reciprocal lifting of commercial and economic sanctions imposed at the time of the Falklands conflict on Argentina.

Mr. Whitney: The Presidency of the European Community approached the Argentine authorities on five occasions in 1982 and 1983 to suggest discussion of the full normalisation of economic and commercial relations between the Community and Argentina.

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The then Argentine Government consistently declined to enter into substantive discussions, arguing that it was necessary first for Britain to comply with United Nations Resolutions which called unacceptably for negotiations about sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

We regret that the Argentine Government brought last week's talks in Berne, at which we proposed the normalisation of our commercial relations, to a premature end by failing to proceed upon the basis that had been clearly agreed.

Mr. Dalyell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a further statement on his consideration with the Falkland Islanders of the future structure of their internal government and electoral system;

(2) what further discussions he has had with Falkland Islanders on the future of the constitution.

Mr. Whitney: As is normal in such cases, the draft of the new constitution is now being considered by the Civil Commissioner, after which it will be discussed fully with the elected councillors.

Mr. Dalyell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current relations between the civilian and military populations in the Falkland Islands.

Mr. Whitney: Relations between the civilian and military populations in the Falkland Islands are excellent.

Mr. Dalyell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) carpenters, (b) bakery workers, (c) laundry workers and (d) masons are now in employment in the Falklands.

Mr. Whitney: The numbers of members of these trades employed by the Falkland Islands Government, the Falkland Islands Company and indigenous companies and contractors are as follows:

(a) 6 plus 4 apprentices (b) 1

(c) 1

(d) None

Mr. Dalyell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name the distinguished Falkland islanders who have recently visited his Department; and what representations they made about re-establishing a rational working relationship with Argentina.

Mr. Whitney: Mr. L. G. (Tim) Blake, a Falkland Islands councillor, who is currently on holiday in this country, called on Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and officials at the beginning of July. Ministers and officials have also had regular dealings with Mr. Adrian Monk, the head of the Falkland Islands Government Office in London, who retired in June, and look forward to continuing these with his successor, Mr. Alastair Cameron. Details of all these discussions are confidential.

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