HC Deb 25 January 1966 vol 723 cc36-8W
Mr. Webster

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to other Governments to comply with the requests contained in Recommendation 445 of the Council of Europe Working Party.

Mr. Padley

Recommendation 445 is under consideration in the Committee of Ministers' Deputies in the Council of Europe.

Mr. Webster

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he will take to support in the Committee of Ministers the requests contained in Recommendation 438 of the Council of Europe Working Party.

Mr. Padley

Recommendation 438 is still under consideration in the Committee of Ministers' Deputies in the Council of Europe.

Mr. David Webster

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to other Governments to co-operate with the competent bodies of the Council of Europe in the preparation of the international instruments proposed in Recommendation 436 of the Working Party on fresh water pollution control in Europe.

Mr. Padley

Recommendation 436 on Fresh Water Pollution Control in Europe is still under consideration in the Committee of Ministers' Deputies in the Council of Europe. It would be premature to consider representations to other Governments.

Mr. Webster

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will explain the Government's policy towards Recommendation 435 of the Council of Europe Working Party on the activities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Mr. Padley

Recommendation 435 is still under consideration in the Committee of Ministers' Deputies at the Council of Europe. We shall decide what action to take in the light of the Committee's conclusions.

Mr. Webster

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he will take to support the drafting of an international instrument as proposed in Recommendation 434 of the Council of Europe Working Party, on the granting of the right of asylum to European refugees.

Mr. Padley

Recommendation 434 is still under consideration in the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers' Deputies. Study of drafting a declaration on the right of asylum has been referred to the Committee of Experts on Human Rights, on which Her Majesty's Government are represented.

Mr. Webster

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he will take to comply with the requests contained in Recommendation 432 of the Council of Europe Working Party, on recent developments in international exchanges.

Mr. Padley

Recommendation No. 432 of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe is still under consideration by Ministers' Deputies at the Council of Europe, and until a conclusion is reached no action by Her Majesty's Government is necessary or appropriate. As the hon. Member is aware, local authorities in the United Kingdom have certain powers under which they can spend money on international exchanges.

Mr. Webster

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he will take to support in the Committee of Ministers the requests contained in Recommendation 427 of the Council of Europe Working Party.

Mr. Padley

The United Kingdom Permanent Representative on the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers' Deputies has been instructed to support the proposal to set up the Symposium referred to in Recommendation 427 of the Council of Europe Working Party.

Mr. Webster

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will explain the Government's policy towards Recommendation 426 of the Council of Europe Working Party, on the creation of a regional system for the settlement of disputes among member states of the Council of Europe.

Mr. Padley

This Recommendation is still under consideration by the Committee of Ministers' Deputies in the Council of Europe.