§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) in what other countries he advertises the opportunities available to people to set up business in the Falkland Islands;
(2) how many people desiring to establish businesses in the Falkland Islands have been refused permission to do so; and for what reasons.
§ Mr. WhitneyThese are matters for the Falkland Islands Government. I am consulting them and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ships and of what nationality are currently fishing offshore from the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. WhitneyAt the beginning of May 1984, 48 fishing vessels were operating within the 150-nautical mile Falkland Islands protection zone. Wider statistics are not available. Their countries of origin were as follows:
Country of origin Number Poland 22 German Democratic Republic 8 Japan 7 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 4 Taiwan 3 Federal Republic of Germany 2 Spain 2
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now publish the terms of reference of the inquiry into the fire at the King Edward VII memorial hospital at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe terms of reference are as follows: To inquire into:
and to report.
- (i) the cause of the fire,
- (ii) the fighting of the fire,
- (iii) the risk of fire on the islands and, in particular in the King Edward Memorial Hospital,
- (iv) steps taken to reduce the risk of fire in the hospital, and should fire break out, to control and extinguish that fire and to safeguard human life,
- (v) within the financial and other resources which were available, whether or not such steps as were taken were reasonable,
- (vi) such other matters as the commission may consider to be relevant in their inquiry into the matters set out above,