TNAG-2168-FCO40-3105-House-of-Commons-Foreign-Affairs-Committee-inquiry-into-Hong-1990 — Page 296

Rn2 7/1 Miss Marson

Mr Stme

FROM:

D Holt

DATE:

Me Msens MON

MoMor

Mr Haswan

Mr Paul Рали

Now fixed

PS/Mr Maude

Cc:

Parliamentary Relations Unit

23 November 1989

Private Secretary

PS/PUS

Mr Gillmore

Mr McLaren

Mr Carrick

Miss Spencer HKD

SEAD

for 13 DCC W24.

FAC WINTER SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES INQUIRY PLANNED FOR WEDNESDAY 6 DECEMBER AT 4.15

1.

2.

The FAC planned two evidence sessions for 6 December:

Aid to Eastern Europe

-

Mr Carrick is to give evidence.

Vietnamese Boat People Mr McLaren or Mr Gillmore had been asked to do so, but this week urgent overseas commitments, which will prevent them doing so, have been confirmed.

FAC Inquiries into Winter Supplementary Estimates are concerned with the detail of expenditure on a subject, and related accounting; not the policy. For that reason it has been the practice in recent years for the FAC to invite senior officials to give oral evidence, not Ministers.

3.

We have discussed a variety of alternative timings with FAC Committee Clerk, so far without success. None work. The Clerk has discussed the problem with Mr David Howell this evening. Mr Howell's firm view is that, in the circumstances the Estimates Inquiry on Vietnamese Boat People should be attached to the evidence session which Mr Maude is giving to the FAC on 13 December morning on the Government's interim response to the Committee's Hong Kong report. Mr Howell says this additional element will not detract from the main thrust of the evidence session: the future of Hong Kong, democratisation, nationality, right of abode, etc.

4. I should be grateful to know if the Minister can agree to this solution.

5. The Aid to Eastern Europe session will stay in place for the of 6 December.

6.

The Committee Clerk tells me also that the FAC are seeking to debate Vietnamese Boat People before Christmas on a half Estimates day.

Javie How.

D Holt