TNAG-1299-FCO40-1655-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 17

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Written Answers

Nicaragua

25 APRIL 1984

Mr. Tom Cox asked the Secretary of State for Foreen and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States Government concerning recent developments in Nicaragua.

Mr. Whitney: We are in close touch with the United States Government at all levels on matters of current concern, including Nicaragua.

Torture Victims (UN Fund)

54. Mr. Johnston asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now announce what contribution the United Kingdom is to make to the United Nations volunteer fund for torture victims.

Mr. Whitney: I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson) on 23 January at column 392.

China

Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to China.

Mr. Luce: My right hon. and learned Friend had discussions with the Foreign Minister and other Chinese leaders on all aspects of Hong Kong's future, as well as on other bilateral and international issues. He also signed a consular agreement between Britain and China.

Hong Kong

Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Hong Kong.

Mr. Luce: My right hon. and learned Friend had useful discussions with the Governor, the Executive Council and the senior officials of the Hong Kong Government. He also met a wide-cross section of the Hong Kong community, including the unofficial members of the Legislative Council, elected and appointed members of the urban council and district boards and local business men. During his press conference on 20 April, my right hon. and learned Friend made a statement about our negotiations with the Chinese on the future of Hong Kong. Copies of this statement are available in the Library of the House.

General Alexander Haig (Memoirs)

Mr. Dalyell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is obtaining a copy of General Alexander Haig's memoirs for his Department's Library.

Mr. Whitney: Yes.

Broadcasting Unit

Mr. George Robertson asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Government of Oman about the possibility of a transfer of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office broadcasting unit to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr. Whitney: None.

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The Secretary of Sto

Mr. George Robertson asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been received from the Ayof Cyprus about the proposal to transfer the Foreign and Commonwealth Office broadcasting unit to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

INDEX

Mr. Whitney: None.

Mr. George Robertson asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the savings which will accrue if the Foreign Office broadcasting unit is transferred to the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr. Whitney: Discussions are continuing and until the outcome is clearer it is not possible to be precise about savings although it is likely that there will be considerable savings in manpower.

Central America

Mr. D. E. Thomas asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will raise at the United Nations the extent of the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice following the refusal of the United States Administration to accept the court's jurisdiction in disputes involving Central America; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Whitney: I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson) on 13 April at column 469.

Mr. Alan Goodison

Mr. John David Taylor asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Mr. Alan Goodison took up his post as United Kingdom ambassador to the Republic of Ireland.

Mr. Luce: Mr. Alan Goodison took up his post as ambassador on 17 June 1983.

Nicaragua

Mr. Anderson asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will respond positively to the invitation of the French Foreign Minister for the United Kingdom to join France by giving all available assistance in a humanitarian operation to sweep mines from the approaches of Nicaraguan ports.

Mr. Whitney: We have not been asked to provide minesweeping assistance to the Nicaraguan Government and have no plans to do so.

Morocco

Mr. Corbyn asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the attitude of Her Majesty's Government to the peace plan adopted by the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations for direct negotiations between the Polisario Front and the Government of Morocco.

Mr. Luce: We welcomed the resolution adopted unanimously at the 19th summit of the OAU in Addis Ababa in June 1983 and supported the resolution adopted by consensus at the 38th General Assembly of the United Nations on the question of the western Sahara.

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