HC Deb 04 July 1995 vol 263 cc110-1W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department intends to contribute to the fund established by the makers of the film "The Dying Rooms" for the support of children abandoned in Chinese state orphanages. [32017]

Mr. Baldry

We have made no contribution to this fund.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on implications of the recent information obtained on the treatment of abandoned children in China for his Department's funding of the IPPF and UNIFA. [32080]

Mr. Baldry

[holding answer 3 July 1995]: The United Nations Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation will be asked about the implications of recent information obtained on the treatment of abandoned children in China.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will undertake research into the links between Chinese population control policy and the situation of abandoned children in China; [32081]

(2) if he will make an assessment of the links between the Chinese population control policy and the imbalance of the sexes in China. [32082]

Mr. Baldry

[holding answers 3 July 1995]: We shall continue to seek information on China's population policies and the consequences of their implementation.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the use of repeated visits by population control officials and volunteers to Chinese women with illegal pregnancies or separation of them from their families to exert psychological pressure on them to accept abortion. [32083]

Mr. Baldry

[holding answer 3 July 1995]: We continue to receive reports alleging abuses of reproductive rights in China.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information he has regarding the Chinese Family Planning Association and IPPF involvement in house visits and family planning courses in China; [32084]

(2) what information he has regarding UNFPA involvement in funding, training for or participation in house visits and family planning courses in China. [32085]

Mr. Baldry

[holding answers 3 July 1995]: We understand from the International Planned Parenthood Federation that members of the China Family Planning Association do make home visits. These visits are designed to inform people of the choices of family planning methods available and provide information on how they can better access reproductive health care services. The CFPA also undertakes training courses to enable people to make informed choices about childbearing. The IPPF has provided vehicles and audio-visual equipment to the CFPA.

The United Nations Population Fund does not fund or provide training for home visits. Its training programmes focus on contraceptive choice, interpersonal counselling and informed consent.

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