HC Deb 12 July 1971 vol 821 cc27-9
32. Mr. Soref

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will stop aid to Sierra Leone owing to its occupation by Guienean armed forces.

Mr. Wood

No, Sir.

Mr. Soref

In the circumstances, that country is in a unique position, in that there is an alien, aggressive, Communist invading force there. In those circumstances, can we justify to the British taxpayer the spending of British money to support that country?

Mr. Wood

The factor about that country which is not unique is that it has a lawful Government. The lawful Government requested these troops, and there is no reason at all why I should suspend aid for that reason.

Mr. James Johnson

May I ask the Minister to pay no attention to this Fascist piffle? Is it not a fact that Siaka Stevens, the Prime Minister, asked Her Majesty's Government to give him help under these conditions but that we did not send any forces? This is a fellow Commonwealth State, and I object to this kind of attack on it.

Mr. Wood

I cannot accept that description of my hon. Friend's remarks. He has a point of view and he is perfectly at liberty to express it.

Mr. Braine

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I was in Sierra Leone recently and that I warmly support his answers today? Would he take this opportunity of agreeing with the view of the Select Committee on Overseas Aid, that the primary aim of British aid is to assist long-term economic development, that this is in British interests and that it should not be turned off and on like a tap for short-term political reasons?

Mr. Wood

I am very glad that my hon. Friend has made that point. It is a point that I took the opportunity of emphasising in the debate last month.

40. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will invite the Prime Minister of Sierra Leone to pay an official visit to London.

Mr. Kershaw

The Prime Minister of Sierra Leone was invited to pay an official visit to the United Kingdom in May. This invitation is still open.

Mr. Whitehead

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply and associate myself with his right hon. Friend's rebuff to the hon. Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Soref). Nevertheless, could he convey to the Prime Minister of Sierra Leone the very real regret felt in this country at the recent executions there—while of course acknowledging that we have neither the right nor the need to interfere in their internal affairs?

Mr. Kershaw

As the hon. Gentleman says, we have no formal locus standi to interfere in these matters, but I am sure that the reactions of my hon. Friend the Member for Essex, South-East (Mr. Braine) when he went there recently will have shown that there is a great deal of good will for this country in Sierra Leone, which we heartily reciprocate.