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Law in developing the proposals that he announced on 7 October. We have pressed the Chinese side to change the Basic Law to allow for an increase in the number of directly-elected seats in the Legislative Council for 1995. In view of their position that this is not possible, the Governor has set out in parallel an alternative approach. That is the approach on which we are concentrating at present. We consider that the Governor's proposals are within the terms of the Basic Law.
Export Controls
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution his Department will make to the seminar planned by the Export Control Organisation on the practical guide to United Kingdom export controls.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: Foreign Office officials regularly contribute to seminars organised by the Export Control Organisation on United Kingdom export controls. They will next do so on 1 December 1992.
Albania
Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimates are for food supplies in Tirana; and what plans he has to provide food aid to Albania.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: An EC mission to Albania earlier this year estimated Albania's additional food needs until the autumn of 1993 at around US $84 million. In June, the EC agreed a food aid grant worth 45 mecu ($59 million). A further 40 mecu ($53 million) was subsequently approved in October.
South Africa
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 October, Official Report, column 90, when he now expects to receive a further report from the South African Government on the agents mentioned.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd: We have been kept fully abreast of the South African investigation as it proceeded. During his visit last weekend President de Klerk handed over a letter on this matter to the Prime Minister. This issue was also covered in their talks on 14 November.
Sarawak
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representa- tions to the Malaysian Government to prevent further deforestation of the Sarawak region.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd: I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development held discussions on 15 May 1992 with a delegation led by the Malaysian Minister of Primary Industries, Dr. Lim Keng Yaik. The two Ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on co-operation for the conservation, management and development of forest resources, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
We have regular contact with the Malaysian Government on policies in this area as on many other
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issues. It is clear from these contacts that the Malaysians are very much aware of international concern about such
matters.
The Sarawak state authorities have made a number of important undertakings to the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) Council. At a meeting in November 1991, they reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable forest management and declared their intention to reach sustainability before the year 2000. They also announced measures to bring extraction levels down within two years to those recommended by the 1990 ITTO mission led by Lord Cranbrook. We, like many other countries, consider this to be a welcome statement of intent.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Assisted Areas
Ms. Janet Anderson: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what additional funding for assisted areas status provision will be made available (a) for Barnsley, Doncaster and Mansfield and (b) elsewhere.
area
Mr. Sainsbury: Assisted
status determines eligibility for Great Britain regional measures, primarily regional selective assistance. In all assisted areas spending on regional assistance depends upon the demand for the schemes and will be met from the schemes' agreed funding provision.
British Coal
Mr. Redmond: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost of directors' emoluments incurred by British Coal in each year since 1987.
Mr. Eggar: The total emoluments of the members of the corporation, including payments in kind and pensions to former members or their dependants, were as follows:
Year ending
£
March
1987
647,495
1988
574,697
1989
657,955
1990
745,687
1991
819,742
1992
1,138,608
Clothing Quotas
Dame Peggy Fenner: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will promote discussions among clothing manufacturers about the possible advantages of extra import quotas under the outward-processed system from averaging the prices of home-produced and outward- processed clothing to make their United Kingdom production more price-competitive.
Mr. Needham: It is for the relevant trade associations to promote discussion among clothing manufacturers on the economic merits of outward processing trade. However, my Department has gone to great lengths to explain to individual manufacturers the procedures and rules governing this scheme and the benefits which can accrue to companies from its application.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.