HL Deb 19 December 1967 vol 287 cc1360-1

2.41 p.m.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received a copy of the Report of the Consultant Mission to the Development Fund for West Irian, administered by the United Nations as a Trust Fund; whether they will place a copy of the Report in the Library of this House; and what action they are taking in the Security Council to ensure that the recommendations of the Report are carried out.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD SHACKLETON)

My Lords, this Report has not been published. I shall arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library when it is received. I understand that the Report will be a purely economic one relating to the best uses to which the West Irian Fund could be put. As such, it is not a matter which falls to be considered by the Security Council.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that Answer, and also for agreeing to put this interesting Report in the Library so that noble Lords can read it. May I ask him what he means by saying that it is only an economic Report? Is it not a fact that the economic situation of the poor people of West Irian is most serious, and that this Report in fact suggests a very interesting way of helping them in their difficulties? May I also ask how it can be that the Security Council has no responsibility, since the Report was made to the Secretariat, and in particular to Mr. Owen, who is a very highly esteemed and accomplished member of the international Secretariat?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, no member of the present Government would suggest that something which is only economic is not of some importance to the people of this country or any other. What I was seeking to indicate was that it did not come appropriately, so I am advised, within the field of the Security Council. I do not wish to go wider than the Question, but we are hoping for a more happy development of relationships with Indonesia in seeing Indonesia fulfil under the Charter the obligations to West Irian. If the noble Lord would like to pursue the matter further, I am sure he will put down a further Question.

LORD MITCHISON

My Lords, where is West Irian?

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, before the noble Lord satisfies the astonishing ignorance of his noble friend, may I ask him how it is that the Security Council is no longer responsible for what the Secretariat does, since the Secretary-General is dealing with this matter? And is it not a fact that the Secretary-General is answerable to the Security Council, of which this Government is a Permanent Member?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I can only say to the noble Lord that I think it highly unlikely that any matter referred to in the Report of the Consultant Mission will be such as to justify its consideration by the Security Council. I would not rule out that if there were important matters consideration could be given, but it is not, I fear, for us to judge this matter. It is the responsibility of the Secretary-General. To my noble friend Lord Mitchison, I would say that he is perhaps too young to remember that West Irian was at one time New Guinea.