§ 3. Mr. Prenticeasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement on the recent incident in Angola involving United Kingdom citizens, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for East Ham, North; and what representations on the matter have been made to the Portuguese authorities.
§ Mr. HeathI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my hon. Friend on 15th February to the 489 hon. and learned Member for Ipswich (Mr. D. Foot).
No representations have been made to the Portuguese authorities.
§ Mr. PrenticeCan the right hon. Gentleman explain why no representations are being made? Is not this a very serious incident, in which a newsreel camera was confiscated, and is it not an example of the deplorable censorship policy of the Portuguese in Angola? Should not the Government really welcome this incident in order to make representations about their general view of the damage being done by Portuguese policy to the whole case of the West in relation to Africa?
§ Mr. HeathThis is a serious incident and I understand that it is still under investigation. The Portuguese personnel concerned will be dealt with by a military tribunal. The camera was the property of a South African national, so the question of representations would fall in that quarter.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Tilney—Question 4.
§ Mr. D. FootArising from that reply—
§ Mr. SpeakerWhen I called Mr. Tilney, I did not see the hon. and learned Gentleman, but I am tempted to call him. Mr. Foot.
§ Mr. FootAre we to understand that no further report has been received from Her Majesty's representative, either in Lisbon or Angola, since 15th February?
§ Mr. HeathNo, Sir. We have received a further report, because the consul has been to see one of those gentlemen in hospital and has reported on his progress. But the matter itself is still under investigation.