§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of(a)indigenous Tibetans and(b)Han Chinese in(i)the Tibetan Autonomous Region and(ii)Greater Tibet, based on the 1950 boundaries. [161732]
§ Mr. RammellOfficial figures for 2000 give the population of the Tibet Autonomous Region as 2.6 million of which 92.2 per cent. are Tibetans and 5.9 per cent. are Han Chinese. We have no other figures.
We continue to encourage the Chinese to ensure that economic development in Tibet does not adversely affect the Tibetan population. This includes ensuring that they benefit from economic growth including new jobs and the provision of housing, health and education facilities.