TNAG-1668-FCO40-2317-Future-of-Hong-Kong-continuity-of-administration-civil-serv-1987 — Page 249

Written Answers

29 JANUARY 1987

Renton: We are in regular contact with the United States authorities on the full range of nuclear testing issues.

Mr. D. E. Thomas asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what detailed information he has on he joint plans of the Australian and Swedish Governments to set up a network of seismic stations to monitor compliance with a veritable comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

Mr. Renton: We are aware only of a press report on this subject.

Mr. D. E. Thomas asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to prepare any new technical policy papers on new developments in verification measures for the ad hoc group of scientific experts on nuclear test ban verification which meets in March under the auspices of the United Nations conference on disarmament.

Mr. Renton: The value of producing a further paper is kept under review. But so far there has been only one technical paper directly responding to the United Kingdom's paper CD/610 of July 1985. Meanwhile we look forward to participating fully in the work of the ad hoc group of scientific experts in Geneva.

Five Continents Peace Initiative

Mr. D. E. Thomas asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply of 20 January by the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, Official Report, column 524, on the five continents peace initiative, whether Her Majesty's Government have formally replied to messages from the President and Foreign Minister of Mexico.

Mr. Renton: Yes.

Project Zircon

Mr. Campbell-Savours asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 26 January if he will now specify the precise dates on which (a) investigations were first initiated to identify the source or sources of information given to Mr. Duncan Campbell about Project Zircon and (b) these investigations were intensified.

Mr. Renton: Initial inquiries were begun by GCHQ in the summer when the Government first became aware of the BBC's plans for one or more programmes. More detailed investigations were initiated by GCHQ in the week beginning 6 October, when the intention to include specific material on a secret defence project in the BBC series "The Secret Society" became known. These investigations were intensified as further details became available about what information Mr. Campbell might have obtained, and in particular in the week beginning 19 January. Since the police investigation began, GCHQ has handed over responsibility to them and is providing them with full assistance.

Nigeria

Mr. Sheerman asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Govenment are taking to bring pressure to bear on the

Written Answers

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Nigerian Government in order that they cease to delay the repatriation of funds by British companies to the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Chalker: Even in normal circumstances, the procedures for foreign companies to repatriate funds from Nigeria can take time to complete owing to stringent Nigerian exchange control regulations. But where undue delays arise, we are prepared to make representations to the Nigerian authorities on behalf of British companies. This was one of the subjects which I raised with Nigerian Ministers during my recent visit to Lagos.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

West Germany

Mr. Austin Mitchell asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report (i) a table showing a total trade in food, drink and tobacco between the United Kingdom and West Germany in the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available and (ii) a table showing trade with West Germany in common agricultural policy products.

Mr. Donald Thompson: Information on total trade in food, drink and tobacco between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany is given in the following table. It would involve disproportionate cost to extract the data required for the many commodities covered by the common agricultural policy.

Total trade in food, drink and tobacco between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany-December 1985 to November 1986

Commodity

Food1 Drink Tobacco2

United Kingdom Imports Tonnes

United Kingdom Exports Tonnes

£ 000

£ '000

1,273,340

24,060

405,446 44.093

1,154

9,901

598,090 426,214 251,572 166,512 13,668 61,269

Includes live animals for food and feedingstuffs.

2 Includes cigars, cigarettes and other manufactured tobacco. Source HM Customs and Excise Overseas Trade Statistics.

EC (Food Surplus)

Mr. Hancock asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the financial cost to Britain for maintaining EEC food surpluses in the last three years.

Mr. Jopling: The United Kingdom contributes to the EC budget as a whole (rather than to specific schemes) at approximately 20 per cent., abated by the Fontainebleau mechanism. Community expenditure on public interven- tion storage has been:

1984 1985 1986

MECU

1,056

1.342

1,424

The cost of storing products in public intervention in the United Kingdom, not including financing costs, and related receipts from the EAGGF, is :

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