§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what measures he intends to take to promote proper care for abandoned children in Chinese state orphanages; and if he will make a statement; [29783]
(2) what information he has received as to physical restraint of children in Chinese state orphanages; and if he will make a statement; [29781]
(3) what representations his Department has made in the last two years to the Chinese authorities regarding allegations of the existence of dying rooms in Chinese state orphanages; [29792]
(4) what representations his Department has made to the Chinese Government regarding their treatment of orphans and abandoned children; [29791]
166W(5) what reports he has received alleging absence of care in Chinese state orphanages; [29776]
(6) what reports he received as to who cares for abandoned babies in Chinese state orphanages; and if he will make a statement. [29780]
§ Mr. GoodladWe continue to be deeply concerned about reports of abuses of children in certain Chinese state orphanages.
We have received varying reports about standards of care in Chinese orphanages. The Chinese Government provide social health care workers to look after abandoned babies. We believe that the ratio of staff to children, and the quality of staff, vary around the country. We believe that conditions in the orphanages also vary, but some include the use of physical restraint of children.
We take every suitable opportunity, both bilaterally and in conjunction with our European Union partners, to express to the Chinese authorities our concerns about reports of human rights abuses in China. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, for example, discussed human rights in China with the Chinese Foreign Minister in New York on 18 April.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what statements have been issued by the Chinese Government on their missions to Great Britain regarding the standards of care in Chinese state orphanages and the existence of dying rooms. [29777]
§ Mr. GoodladI refer the hon. Member to the fact sheet on China's orphanages issued by the Chinese embassy in London on 13 June 1995, a copy of which will be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if representatives of Her Majesty's Government will raise the issue of the condition of abandoned children in Chinese state orphanages at the United Nations conference on women in Beijing. [29778]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNo. We are deeply concerned about reports of ill treatment and neglect of children in Chinese orphanages, but the UN conference on women has not been called to address specific issues of this kind in individual countries.