TNAG-1658-FCO40-2306-Daya-Bay-nuclear-power-station-project-safety-concerns-in-Ho-1987 — Page 109

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region and more widely, the views of our allies and the regional states themselves, the texts of the treaty and protocols and the announced policy of the Soviet Union, we have concluded that it would not serve our national interest to become party to the protocols to the treaty.

At the same time, we remain ready as a matter of policy to respect the intentions of the regional states as set out in protocol I. In other words, we have no intention of testing, manufacturing or basing nuclear weapons on Pitcairn, the only territory under our jurisdiction within the area covered by the treaty.

Further, with respect to proctocol II, we reaffirm the British undertaking given in 1978 to non-nuclear weapon states which are parties to the NPT or equivalent commitments, not to use nuclear weapons against such states except in the case of an attack upon the United Kingdom, its dependent territories, its armed forces or its allies by such a state in association or alliance with a nuclear weapon state.

Third, in respect of protocol III, we note that we have no intention of conducting nuclear tests in the south Pacific.

Mr. Mordechai Vanunu

Mr. Cohen asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation he has made to the Israeli Government about the kidnap and trial of Mr. Mordechai Vanunu; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor: In reply to our representations after Mr. Vanunu's disappearance the Israeli Government gave a formal assurance that Mr. Vanunu left this country of his own volition. We have no reason to doubt this assurance. We have made no representations about the conduct of the trial.

Israel (Nuclear Missiles)

Mr. Cohen asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement indicating Her Majesty's Government's view on the development by the Israeli Government of its Jericho II nuclear missiles.

Mr. Mellor: We saw press reports in July of the test- firing of a Jericho II missile by Israel. We are concerned about the introduction of any new long-range missile into the middle east, particularly if it is nuclear capable.

South Africa

Mr. Cohen asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement indicating Her Majesty's Government's view on the production of a nuclear device by the South African Government.

Mr. Mellor: We have no evidence of the production of a nuclear device by the South African Government. We would view the production of such a device by any non- nuclear weapon state with very grave concern. We have consistently urged the South African Government to accede to the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. We welcome the recent South African statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency that they are now willing to negotiate accesion to the treaty. This would

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oblige them to place all their nuclear facilities and materials under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

Deportations (Israel)

Mr. Cohen asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation he has made to the Israeli authorities about that Government's deportation of Arabs and Palestinians; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor: We have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our view that deportation of residents from the Occupied Territories in contrary to international law. On 28 December 1986, the Foreign Ministers of the Twelve issued a statment in protest at the deportation of Mr. Akram Haniyya.

Nuclear Power Station (Daya Bay)

Mr. Cohen asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the construction errors in the nuclear power station being built at Daya bay, 30 miles from city centre in Hong Kong.

Mr. Eggar: Construction work on the second layer of the unit 1 reactor raft of the Daya bay plant was suspended in mid-September following the discovery that a number of reinforcement bars for the first and lowest of the five concrete layers (316 out of a planned total of over 14,500) had inadvertently been omitted. The joint venture company responsible for the project is considering. remedial action to ensure that the finished construction will still comply with all the safety requirements of the original design. We are satisfied that all the parties involved attach the utmost importance to considerations of safety, and to the need to make certain that these are not compromised.

Data Protection

Mr. Cohen asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards fees for subject access under the terms of the Data Protection Act; how many register entries his Department has; and what would be the total cost to a data subject seeking access to personal data held under all register entries.

Mr. Eggar: In common with other Government Departments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (including the Overseas Development Administration) does not propose to charge its employees (including successful job applicants and former civil servants) in its capacity as employer for routine and reasonable access to any personal record. In addition, the Overseas Development Administration has decided to extend this subject access to all personal records maintained on current and retired technical co-operation officers, current and retired supplemented staff, overseas pensioners and prospective employees under bilateral and multilateral technical co-operation schemes. There will, however, be a charge of £10 each in respect of all other applications from members of the public. This fee has been set in accordance with Treasury guidelines on recovery of costs.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has eight register entries, and the Overseas Development Administration one register entry.

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