§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy regarding the European Economic Community ESPRIT programme which is designed to strengthen co-operation in the European Economic Community on information technology.
§ Mr. RifkindWe attach importance to increased industrial co-operation in Europe, particularly in high technology areas such as information technology. But before the Community can enter into a major long-term commitment such as a European strategic plan for research in information and technology the implications for the Community Budget will need careful consideration. In consultation with our Community partners, we are doing this.
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§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow on 18 January about negotiations for the future of the Falkland Islands, if he will set out in the Official Report the several British suggestions referred to by the official spokesman of his Department in his statement on 4 January.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe suggestions, which have been made over a period, relate to practical areas in which we believe agreement with Argentina should be possible. They include proposals made through the European Community and its Presidency for the normalisation of economic and commercial relations; repeated indications of our willingness to facilitate the return of Argentine dead buried in the Falklands and, failing that, our readiness in principle to accept a suitably-prepared visit to the Islands by Argentine next-of-kin.