§ Q15. Mr. Lathamasked the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on the Falkland Islands.
§ Q19. Mr. Dykesasked the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on the latest developments in the Falkland Islands dispute with Argentina.
§ Q34. Mr. Michael Brownasked the Prime Minister if she will make a further statement on the situation in the Falkland Islands.
§ The Prime MinisterThe repatriation of the Argentine prisoners of war from the Falkland Islands is now almost completed. About 10,000 of them will have been returned to Argentina, most in far better condition than when captured.
We continue to press the Argentine Government to agree to a complete cessation of hostilities in the South Atlantic. Until we receive a satisfactory assurance on this, it would not be militarily prudent to repatriate all the prisoners. We shall be retaining a certain number of them in our hands for the time being.
§ Q49. Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Prime Minister if she will appoint a Minister to co-ordinate the activities of all Government Departments, public service agencies and private firms that are or may be involved in reconstructing the infrastructure and refurbishing the civil facilities of the Falkland Islands.
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary will be responsible for the necessary co-ordination.
67W
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Prime Minister whether she will ensure that on arrival at Montevideo the Argentine prisoners before disembarkation are handed a statement of the United Kingdom case on the Falkland setting out the history of the occupation of the islands and dependencies.
§ The Prime MinisterThe repatriation of Argentine prisoners of war from the Falklands has had to be undertaken in extremely difficult and urgent conditions. We are of course concerned to ensure that the Falklands dispute is better understood in Argentina and throughout Latin America, and shall be continuing to take all the action we can to this end.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Prime Minister whether she will consider, at the islands' request, the incorporation of the Falkland Islands into the United Kingdom on the same basis as the Overseas Departments in the case of France.
§ The Prime MinisterThe first requirement will be for a period of rehabilitation, during which the islanders will be able to consider their future. We will then be discussing their wishes with them.
§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Prime Minister if she will set out the responsibilities of Ministers in answering parliamentary questions on matters connected with the Falkland Islands.
§ The Prime MinisterQuestions concerning specific defence matters relating to the Falkland Islands should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. All other questions on general matters concerning the Falkland Islands should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who will confer with his ministerial colleagues as necessary.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Prime Minister to which Department hon. Members should direct questions about the refurbishing and reconstruction of public services and infrastructure in the Falklands.
§ The Prime MinisterQuestions relating to rehabilitation and reconstruction in the Falkland Islands should be directed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.