§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his German counterparts on the Arab trade boycott of Israel; and what plans he has for such discussions in the future.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe boycott was discussed with G7 colleagues, including the Germans, at the Tokyo summit, and the political declaration included a statement calling for its end. We have no plans to discuss this further with German colleagues.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legislative plans he has to prevent United Kingdom companies from complying with the Arab trade boycott of Israel.
§ Mr. NeedhamI have been asked to reply.
Her Majesty's Government have no plans for the introduction of legislation on the Arab boycott of Israel.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Warley, West (Mr. Spellar) of 16 July,Official Report, column 725, what his Department (a) has done and (b) intends to do in relation to Israel's membership of the Asian regional group at the United Nations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe have made our views clear on this issue, and will continue to do so.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support Israel's admission to PREPCOM of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in the Hague; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Douglas HoggIsrael is already a member of the preparatory commission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons—OPCW—in The Hague. We welcome Israel's signature of the chemical weapons convention and participation in the OPCW PREPCOM. We are working with Israel and other signatory states for the speedy and effective implementation of the convention.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department(a) has done and (b) intends to do in ensuring the Arab states maintain their commitment to abandon the Arab trade boycott of Israel.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggUnder the United Kingdom presidency, the EC initiated a demarche to Arab States urging them to lift the boycott. We continue to urge them to do so.