TNAG-2168-FCO40-3105-House-of-Commons-Foreign-Affairs-Committee-inquiry-into-Hong-1990 — Page 44

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27 JUNE 1990

Mr. Lilley: Personal disposable income is calculated by deducting from total personal income before tax the sum of United Kingdom taxes on income, social security contributions, payments of the community charge, but not, in the past, payments of rates and transfers abroad. Real personal disposable income is derived by dividing personal disposable income by the consumers' expenditure deflator-the ratio of consumers' expenditure at current prices to consumers' expenditure revalued at constant prices. A description of the personal sector and of the methods of calculating the various compoenents of the personal disposable income calculation can be found in chapter 6, part A of the Central Statistical Office's "United Kingdom National Accounts: Sources and Methods".

Parallel Currencies

Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has discussed his proposals for parallel currencies with (a) the President of the European Commission and (b) the president of the Bundesbank; whether he has any plans to do so before the intergovernmental conference; and if he will make a

statement.

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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

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Missions (Fax Machines)

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which missions abroad are fitted with fax machines.

Mr. Sainsbury: Most of our posts overseas are fitted with facsimile machines. I refer the hon. Member to the current edition of the "HM Diplomatic Service Overseas Reference List", a copy of which is in the Library of the House, which provides facsimile numbers in each case.

Europe Day

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution was made by Her Majesty's Government to Europe Day on 8 May.

Mr. Maude: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister contributed a message to a volume prepared by the Jean Monnet Foundation to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Schuman plan.

The United Kingdom was represented at the ceremonies in Brussels for Europe Day on 8 May by Her Majesty's permanent representative to the European Communities.

Mr. Lilley (holding answer 26 June 19901: As my right (FED

hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said on 21 June in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) at column 655, he will be discussing his proposals further with his colleagues in the European Community, over the coming weeks.

Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his proposals for parallel currencies as outlined in his speech to the German Industry Forum.

Mr. Lilley (holding answer 26 June 1990]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my right hon. Friend the Chancellor gave my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 21 June, at column 655.

CIVIL SERVICE

Census

Mr. Skinner: To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what are the reasons for the Central Office of Information's decision to recruit a private advertising firm to undertake a publicity campaign to promote the April 1991 census; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ryder: I have been asked to reply. The census offices have commissioned the Central Office of Information to assist them in a publicity campaign to create public awareness of the 1991 census. The Central Office of Information will be handling this work in the same way as it handles work for other Government Departments. The Central Office of Information will be appointing an advertising agency, as it does for all Government advertising campaigns.

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HKD China

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Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Minister of State's visit to China in July represents any change in the policy of no high level contacts with China; and if the visit's discussions will be limited to the question of Hong Kong.

Mr. Maude: It has always been accepted by our European partners that we have a special need to maintain contact and gradually to rebuild good working relations with China over Hong Kong. My visit is in pursuance of that aim. Details of the programme remain to be settled, but it is intended that the discussions should cover Hong Kong and other issues of common concern.

FRID

Republic of Ireland

Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions, if any, at international conferences or meetings within the last five years when Her Majesty's Government have formally rejected or objected to the territorial claim over the United Kingdom contained in the constitution of the Republic of Ireland.

Mr. Hurd: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a similar question on 20 June 1990. British delegates at all international conferences and meetings explicitly represent the United Kingdom of Great Britain and/ Northern Ireland, and this clearly demonstrates our position.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Football Clubs

123. Mr. Geraint Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what analysis he has made of the steps being taken by football clubs to implement the findings of the Taylor report.