TNAG-2595-FCO40-3783-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 56

Written Answers

3 JUNE 1992

Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether he will allow the BBC to recommence simultaneous broadcasting on the FM and medium wave frequencies.

Mr. Mellor: No. In general, broadcasting the same programme in one area on two frequencies is a wasteful use of the radio spectrum. The BBC decided to keep its FM frequencies, which are suitable for stereo sound broadcasting. The Radio Authority is using AM frequencies to extend listener choice.

Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received concerning the quality of reception of Radios 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Mr. Mellor: I have received three letters from Members of Parliament and four letters from members of the public about the quality of reception for BBC Radio 1, 2, 3, and 4. This is, of course, primarily a matter for the BBC.

Consultants Fees

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will give an estimate for the total sum paid out in fees by his Department to management consultants in 1992-93.

Mr. Mellor: I estimate that the total sum paid out, or committed to be paid out, in fees by my Department to management consultants in 1992-93 is £878,400. Further fees may be paid out as and when the need to engage management consultants arises.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Iraq

14. Mr. Mans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the United Nations team in Iraq in identifying and destroying weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: Despite Iraqi obstruction and deception, United Nations inspectors have made considerable progress. Ambassador Ekeus, executive chairman of the special commission, reported his findings to the Security Council on 27 May; that report will be placed in the Library.

Destruction is well under way, and I refer my hon. Friend to the list of equipment destroyed contained in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) in column 259.

The international community is determined to keep up the pressure; there is no question of Iraq once more becoming a threat to its neighbours.

Cyprus

16. Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next meet the Turkish ambassador to discuss the situation in Cyprus.

Mr. Garel-Jones: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans for such a meeting. However my right hon. Friend has on several occasions this year had the opportunity to discuss

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Cyprus with Turkish Ministers. These meetings have been encouraging, and their tone is reflected in the current prospects for progress in the United Nations-led talks.

28. Dr. Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the continued occupation of part of Cyprus by Turkish troops.

Mr. Garel-Jones: The continued presence in Cyprus of large numbers of foreign troops is not helpful to prospects for a settlement.

29. Mr. McKelvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to visit Cyprus to discuss the situtation regarding the border dispute.

Mr. Garel-Jones: We give full support to the United Nations Secretary-General's efforts to bring about a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus. There are current grounds for optimism; all sides have accepted the ideas endorsed in Security Council resolution 750, and the recent round of talks by United Nations envoys went well. We have frequent contact with Cypriot Ministers and all other parties to the dispute. However, we believe it important not to undertake initiatives that could in any way cut across the delicate negotiations by United Nations envoys in Cyprus itself.

24. Mr. Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Turkish Government as to the numbers of settlers from Turkey now living in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Garel-Jones: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not discussed this matter with the Government of Turkey.

Hong Kong.

20. Mr. Michael J. Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to speed up the working of the joint liaison group in discussions on Hong Kong.

Mr. Goodlad: My right hon. Friend raised the need for a faster pace of work in the Sino-British Liaison Group in his last meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister here in March. We shall continue our efforts to achieve that at the next meeting of the group in Peking in June.

It is also important to achieve the right agreements for Hong Kong, and to take the time necessary to secure them.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

26. Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to prevent the Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina whose independence he has recognised being removed by force of arms.

Mr. Douglas Hogg: We fully support United Nations Security Council Resolution 752 of 15 May, which called for the immediate withdrawal or disbandment of the JNA and of elements of the Croatian army currently operating in Bosnia.