459
Written Answers
170 اما
2 APRIL 1990
Mr. Waldegrave: The Arab League in Tunis was fully briefed on our reaction to the Iraqi execution of Farzad Bazoft. We see nothing to be gained from pursuing this matter further.
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Hong Kong
Mr. Adley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the 25,000 citizenships offered to Hong Kong people by the Government of Singapore have been taken up, at the latest date for which information is available.
Mr. Maude: We understand that, at the end of February, 8,605 Hong Kong people had been granted approval in principle under the Singaporean Government's scheme for permanent resident status in Singapore (citizenship is not offered under the scheme). Of those granted approval, 588 are now settled in Singapore, of whom 494 had already been living there when the scheme was introduced.
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EC Directives
Dr. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many European Community directives are the subject of legal action by the Commission against the United Kingdom; when each directive, respectively, entered into force; and what is the stated reason in each case for action taken by the Commission.
Mr. Maude: There are currently three cases brought by the Commission before the European Court of Justice involving alleged failure of the United Kingdom to implement EC directives correctly. The directives are:
-the Equal Treatment Directive (76/207), due for
implementation on 12 August 1978;
-the Drinking Water Directive (80/778), due for
implementation on 18 July 1982;
-the Bathing Water Directive (76/160), due for
implementation on 31 December 1977.
EC Regulations
Dr. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many regulations have been issued by the European Commission since the United Kingdom joined the European Communities; and how many of these regulations Her Majesty's Government have not accepted.
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Mr. Maude: Since the nited Kingdom's accession to the EC a total of 21,8086gns have been adopted, of which 4,946 are still in force Nations are short-lived, for example, in the agriculture sector). Regulations are directly applicable in all member stateRY
INDEX EC Court of Auditors
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Action Taken
Dr. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of the Court of Auditors of the European Communities.
Mr. Maude: The role of the Court of Auditors of the European Communities is set out in detail in article 206a
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of the treaty establishing the European Economic Community. The latest Court of Auditors report on the Community budget was published in the Official Journal (C312) on 12 December 1989 and was placed in the Library of the House.
Council of Ministers
Mr. Jacques Arnold: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
Mr. Maude: The Foreign Affairs Council meets today. Ministers are expected to consider proposals from the Commission on European Community policy on Japanese car imports, and to discuss central Europe. The Commission will report on its explanatory talks with senior officials from the EFTA countries concerning a possible comprehensive EC/EFTA agreement to create an enhanced free trade area. Ministers will discuss preparations for the inter-governmental conference, and the implications of rising third country immigration into the Community. The already agreed EC/Argentina trade and economic co-operation agreement is expected to be signed in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council, with Foreign Minister Cavallo signing for Argentina.
The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 23 April for a further discussion of economic and monetary union and to prepare for the spring IMF/IBRD meetings. Ministers will discuss the proposal to amend directive 69/169/EEC on intra-Community travel. As a transitional step towards completion of the internal market, the Commission proposes progressive increases in tax-paid allowances in intra-Community travel until they are completely lifted on 1 January 1993. ECOFIN will also discuss the package of three tax measures (the draft mergers directive, parent subsidiaries directive and arbitration procedure) which are designed to encourage co-operation between companies based in different member states. There may be a discussion of the proposed increase in the EURATOM borrowing limit, on the proposal for a revision to the financial perspective and on the takeover directive.
The Agricultural Council will meet on 25-26 April to discuss the non-food uses for agricultural produce and beef balance sheet import quotas. It will possibly also discuss agriculture price proposals, the intra-EC trade in horses and veterinary medicines.
EMPLOYMENT
Wages Councils
Mr. Nellist: To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will update the breakdown, by wages inspectorate division, of the information given in his answer of 1 March 1989, Official Report, columns 199-201, regarding the establishments underpaying and prosecu- tions for underpayment of wages council rates.
Mr. Nicholls: The information requested is given in the following tables:
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