3.
Wes
28 OCTOBER 1985
Mr. Michael Forsyth asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether grant or loan support has been provided to the West Highlands Free Press by the Highlands and Islands Development Board.
Mr. John MacKay: The board has provided both grant and loan assistance.
Youth Training Scheme
Mr. Dewar asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the 15 per cent, of youth training scheme leavers in Scotland who receive Manpower Services Commission questionnaires regarding their employment status reply.
Mr. Younger: The response rate in Scotland to the Manpower Services Commission's sample survey of 15 per cent. of young people who left the youth training scheme between June 1984 and March 1985 was 64 per cent.
Mr. Dewar asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of youth training scheme leavers in Scotland who left the scheme in June are currently in full- time employment.
Mr. Younger: The information requested is not available. Results from the Manpower Services Commission's 100 per cent. survey of young people who left the scheme in June are expected in December 1985. The results of the survey will be placed in the Library.
Agriculture
Mr. McQuarrie asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will be able to arrive at a decision regarding financial aid to the Scottish farming industry, in the light of last winter's weather.
Mr. John MacKay: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) on 24 October.
Mr. Maclennan asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will permit farmers in Scotland to claim grant aid under the agriculture and horticulture grant scheme after 31 December if eligible work already started or planned cannot be finished due to adverse weather conditions.
Mr. John MacKay: The agriculture and horticulture grant scheme already provides for an extended closing date for claims for certain important operations including reseeding and regeneration of grassland and arterial drainage in Scotland. Additionally, the Government are urgently considering what steps should be taken to assist farmers whose businesses have been affected by the bad weather. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Independent Schools (Boarding Allowances)
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money the Government paid in each year since 1978-79 to independent schools in the form of boarding allowances in respect of the education of the children of diplomatic staff.
28
Written Answers
222
358
Mr. Eggar: The total cost to the diplomatic service wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including communications departments, in each year since 1978-79 for boarding school allowances, was:
£
1978-79
3,791,665
1979-80
4,011,280
1980-81
4,962,267
1981-82
5,663,088
1982-83
7,465,177
1983-84
5,940,981
1984-85
6,239,908
East Timor
Mr. Frank Field asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards East Timor in the light of Amnesty International's report on the alleged violation of human rights in that country, a copy of which has been sent to him.
Mr. Rifkind: Our policy is to support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to promote contacts between the Indonesian and Portuguese Governments aimed at achieving a just settlement in East Timor. We draw encouragement from the United Nation's Secretary General's latest report on East Timor, copies of which I am placing in the Library of the House.
Export Stabilisation Scheme
Mr. Foulkes asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Economic Community Commission docu- ment, 8667/85 concerning the establishment of an export stabilisation system; what discussions have been held by European Economic Community Foreign Ministers on this subject; and what conclusions were reached.
Mr. Rifkind: At its meeting on 1 October, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed that the European Community should offer to establish a new system of compensation for losses of export earnings on various commodities for the benefit of a number of least-developed countries not already covered by the provisions of the Lomé convention. An announcement to this effect as made at the mid-term review of the UN-sponsored substantial new programme of action for least developed countries held in Geneva from 30 September-11 October.
Hong Kong (Travel Documents)
Mr. Peter Bruinvels asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the arrangements for the introduction of international travel documents for citizens of Hong Kong; whether he is satisfied that such documents will be accepted by other countries; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Rifkind: Yes. It is intended that British National (Overseas) passports should be introduced from 1 July 1987. Their format will be the same as that of passports issued by United Kingdom passport issuing posts to other British Nationals. The Government will do all that they can to secure for BN(O) passport holders the same access to other countries as that enjoyed by holders of British Dependent Territories citizens passports.
fo
b
VÕS DJ
85
di
an
11
a
182
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.