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NATO Enlargement
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the meaning of Lord Chesham's statement concerning the enlargement of NATO (H.L. Deb., 14 March, col. 639) that "There is no question of delay, either to suit Russia or anyone else. The process will continue according to the timetable"; what is the character of this "timetable" that it should bind the British Government; and how this state of affairs accords with Lord Chesham's other statement (H.L. Deb., col. 340) that the enlargement process should be continued" in a measured, gradual and transparent way".
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: NATO Foreign Ministers decided in December 1996 that NATO should hold a Summit in July 1997 which would invite one, or more of the countries which have expressed an interest in joining the Alliance to begin accession negotiations. At the same time they expressed the hope that the new members would be admitted by the time of NATO's 50th Anniversary in 1999. We strongly support this timetable.
US Airborne Laser Programme
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider the ongoing US Airborne Laser Programme to be fully compliant with the Space Treaty and with the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty on which the effectiveness of the British Trident system depends and whether there are any British participants in the Boeing ABM Programme, or any British funding.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: The system to which the noble Lord refers is still in the earliest stages of development. We are assured that the US always takes into account its bilateral and international treaty obligations. We are not participating in the United States Airborne Laser programme and we are unaware of any British industrial participation.
Airspace: Definition and Integrity
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in view of development relating to the militarisation of space, in particular the development by the USA of new "satellite killers" and of lasers for use from converted Boeing 747s, the time has come to seek a uniform upward definition of national airspace; and
Who is responsible for monitoring the air sovereignty of the United Kingdom, and whether he or she has been given any indication of the upper limits of this sovereignty, and if so, what it is.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: The responsibility for maintaining the integrity of sovereign British airspace lies with our armed forces. No particular circumstances have arisen which have caused us to define the upper limits of British airspace. We do not consider that the negotiation of an agreement on national airspace should be a priority of the international community.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether it remains their view that there is no need to take steps to prevent an arms race in space, given the developments announced by the USA of new "satellite killers" and of lasers intended for use from converted Boeing 747s from above national airspace; and
Whether they welcome the developments announced by the USA of new "satellite killers" and of lasers intended for use from converted Boeing 747s, from above national airspace, and whether these aircraft would be permitted to use British airspace.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: The systems to which the noble Lord refers are still in the earliest stages of development and we have not considered the detailed implications for the United Kingdom of any eventual deployment. We do not believe an arms race in outer space presents an imminent danger and we believe that the existing international instruments are adequate.
ABM Treaty
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider it would be in the interests of the United Kingdom that the United States should unilaterally abandon the restrictions imposed upon it by the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile System (the ABM Treaty).
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: We have seen no evidence that the United States is considering such a move. We believe that the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty continues to play an important role in maintaining the stability of the nuclear deterrence framework.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have (a) sought and (b) received assurances from the United States Administration that they would neither breach nor abrogate the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, on the maintenance which the effectiveness of the British Trident force depends, nor interpret it in any way that would put the effectiveness of that force at risk.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: We maintain a close and confidential dialogue with the United States on ballistic missile defence and nuclear deterrence. We believe that the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty continues to play an important role in maintaining the stability of the nuclear deterrence framework.
Hong Kong: Annual Report
The Viscount of Oxfuird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they plan to publish the 1996 Annual Report on Hong Kong?
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: The report was published today and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. The report includes a foreword written by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary, and I commend it to the House.
NATO
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Given their statement (H.L. Deb., 20 November 1996, WA 137) that Mr. John Major as Foreign Secretary gave no formal undertaking in the context of German reunification that NATO would not be pushed eastwards, whether he gave any informal undertaking to that effect.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: I have nothing to add to the Answers given by my noble Friend, Lord Chesham on 20 November 1996 (WA 137) and 13 March 1997 (WA 32).
Bringing Acts of Parliament into Force
The Earl of Kinnoull asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will publish their report on Bringing Acts of Parliament into Force, following up the recommendation last year by the Select Committee on Procedure of the House.
The Lord Privy Seal (Viscount Cranborne): The report is being published today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
European Central Bank Foreign Reserve Assets: UK Contribution
Earl Alexander of Tunis asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the value of that part of the United Kingdom's gold reserves which is to be shipped to Frankfurt in order to comply with European Union legislation.
The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish): The EC Treaty provides for the European Central Bank initially to manage foreign reserve assets valued up to ECU 50,000 million in aggregate. Foreign reserve assets will be provided by the national central banks of those countries which adopt the single currency. The amount provided by each of these national central banks will depend on the size of its country's population and
national income. In return, each of these national central banks will have a claim on the assets of the European Central Bank in proportion to the assets which it provides. It is not possible to say at this time how much the Bank of England would need to provide if the United Kingdom were to participate. Although the European Central Bank will be located in Frankfurt, foreign reserve assets may remain in individual countries to allow more efficient use in local financial markets. The Bank of England would not need to provide any foreign reserve assets if the United Kingdom were not to adopt the single currency.Ethnic Minority Population of UK
The Earl of Kimberley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the total number of non-white people living in Great Britain in 1945, and what is the total in 1997.
Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics, and he has been asked to arrange a reply to be given.
Letter to the Earl of Kimberley from the Director of the Office for National Statistics, Mr. Tim Holt.
I have been asked to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent parliamentary Question on how many non-white people were living in Great Britain in 1945 and 1997.
The earliest year for which population estimates by ethnicity are available is 1966. The article Country of birth and colour 1971-74, in Population Trends, 2, 1975 gave the first set of such estimates and described their derivation. Persons of "New Commonwealth and Pakistani (NCWP) ethnic origin" who were resident in Great Britain in 1966, were estimated to number one million.
Results from the 1995-96 Labour Force Surveys provide an estimate of the ethnic minority population of Great Britain of 3.3 million people. This estimate will be published in Population Trends, 88 in an article entitled Population Review: The ethnic minority and overseas-born populations of Great Britain, which may be of interest to you. Copies of Population Trends are held in the House of Commons Library.
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