TNAG-1413-FCO40-1889-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-report-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 240

Written Answers

29 OCTOBER 1985

First Deputy Foreign Minister during my visit to Moscow in July. I mentioned the specific cases of Roald Zelichenok and Anatoly Shcharansky. My right hon. and learned Friend mentioned a range of Soviet failures to observe commitments made under the Helsinki final act at the CSCE anniversary meeting in Helsinki, 30 July to 1 August. Recently, the Soviet response to questions about Soviet Jewry has generally been that the vast majority of those wishing to leave the Soviet Union have already done so. It is not possible to give a figure for the total number of Jews who have been refused exit permission. In 1983 the Israeli Government suggested that there might be around 10,000 Jewish refuseniks in the USSR, but we have no independent information against which to judge. the reliability of this figure.

Mr. Mason asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he has in mind to draw attention to the Soviet Union that its constant refusal to allow Soviet Jews to emigrate is in breach of the Helsinki agreement, especially on the sections dealing with human rights, and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind: In his speech to the CSCE 10th anniversary commemorative meeting this summer, my right hon. and learned Friend made clear our regret at Eastern failure to live up to their human rights commitments under the Helsinki final act. I am placing a copy of that speech in the Library of the House. My right hon. and learned Friend also raised human rights with Mr. Shevardnadze bilaterally in Helsinki. We shall continue to take all appropriate opportunites to remind the Soviet Union of our wish to see full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Soviet Union, in accordance with its UN and Helsinki commitments.

Falkland Islands (Fishing)

Mr. Greg Knight asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is currently being taken by Her Majesty's Government to prevent fishing by foreign vessels in the waters around the Falkland Islands, and if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of such measures.

Mr. Rifkind: We are continuing our efforts to bring about the establishment of a multilaterally-based fisheries conservation and management regime in the south Atlantic. The aim of such a regime would be to manage fish stocks and to control the activities of fishing vessels in these waters.

British Sikhs

Mr. Bidwell asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representa- tions to the Indian Government seeking a relaxation of visa requirements as they affect Sikhs who are British citizens and who wish to visit relatives in India.

Mr. Rifkind; It would be invidious to request special treatment for any category of British citizens. We have on several occasions drawn the attention of the Indian Government to the practical consequences of their visa regime for British travellers, and expressed the hope that the regime may be lifted as conditions in Punjab return to

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Written Answers

Hong Kong

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Mr. Freeman asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a decision has been taken on the form of the annual report on Hong Kong and the date on which it is to be laid before Parliament.

Mr. Rifkind: Yes. The first annual report on Hong Kong will be published as a White Paper and we hope to lay it before Parliament in December.

CIVIL SERVICE

Disabled Persons

63 Mr. Haynes asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the current percentage level of employment of registered disabled persons in the Home Civil Service.

Mr. Luce: As at 1 June 1985 1.4 per cent of members of the Home Civil Service were registered disabled persons.

NATIONAL FINANCE

Industrial and Public Service Staff

64 Mr. Eastham asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sectors of industry or public services have increased their numbers in employment since 1979 as a direct result of Government investment.

Mr. MacGregor: Detailed information on the labour content of all Government investment is not readily available. Government investment expenditure is assessed in terms of its expected rates of return and in relation to the objectives of the investment. This will not necessarily involve an assessment of employment effects. Input- output tables for 1979, prepared by the Central Statistical Office, may be used to obtain information on the average labour intensity of different categories of expenditure.

Airlines

Mr. Iain Mills asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost of the investigation by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise into the reimportation by airlines of towelettes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gow: The re-importation of these products is dealt with as part of customs' general control over the warehousing, shipment and return of aircraft stores, and no breakdown of costs is kept.

Mr. Iain Mills asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise searches into airlines' in-flight bars.

Mr. Gow: The control of aircraft in-flight bars forms part of customs' general control over the warehousing, shipment and return of aircraft stores and no breakdown of costs is kept.

Mr. Iain Mills asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what annual revenue is derived from fines levied on airlines where in-flight bar stocks are wrongly declared.

Mr. Gow: I regret that this information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. If my hon. Friend has a particular point in mind, and

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