§ 2. Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about future relations between the United Kingdom and Uganda, with particular reference to British subjects resident in Uganda, future aid and Her Majesty's Government's policy towards Uganda at the forthcoming Commonwealth Conference.
§ 3. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Uganda as it affects the interests of British subjects.
§ 4. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the future of British nationals and assets in Uganda.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Alec Douglas-Home)We hold Uganda responsible for the safety and property of our nationals. There have been meetings with the Ugandan Government on compensation for the property of British subjects expelled from Uganda and the transfer of their assets. In the light of these and future discussions we will decide the way in which the matter will be raised at the coming Prime Ministers' Conference. As to aid, I have nothing to add to my statements on 30th November and 19th December.—[Vol. 847, c. 223–24; Vol. 848, c. 1126–34.]
§ Mr. ChapmanI appreciate the difficult and delicate task facing the Government in what is, after all, a very human tragedy, but will my right hon. Friend confirm that bitterness and resentment would be felt by many people in this country if it was thought that we were condemning racialism in one part of Africa yet not appearing to do so in Uganda and that there will be no more economic aid in cash or kind unless and until there is a dramatic reversal in the Ugandan Government's policy?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeRacialism is equally repellent wherever it occurs. I have made the position clear about aid. Unless there is a change of policy in Uganda, aid will not be sent.
§ Mr. DavisWill the right hon. Gentleman also confirm that the intolerable conduct of the Ugandan Government is totally alien to the interests of the Commonwealth? Will he undertake to make that representation to other Commonwealth leaders?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeYes, Sir, I confirm that. We must deal with these matters in order. We must have the conversations with the Ugandan Government to see whether we can get compensation, both for the Asian passport holders and for our own people. That having been done, I will consider the best way to convey our feelings to the other Commonwealth Governments.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan the right hon. Gentleman give some estimate of the total value of these assets and say whether any of them have yet been taken over by the Ugandan Government? Are the Government considering further steps to bring pressure to bear on that intolerable Government?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI do not think that without notice I can state the total value. I can tell the hon. Gentleman what has been done. We have listed the property that has been notified to us, first in the High Commission. Now, again, we have asked all those who have come here, both Asians and British, to list their property with us. Therefore, when we reach the next stage of these talks, we shall know the total value and the individual claims. I will tell the hon. Gentleman the figures when I get them.
§ Mr. RichardCan the Secretary of State say anything about the way in which the discussions over compensation in these negotiations are going? Have we had any reactions yet from the Ugandan Government?
Secondly, is it Her Majesty's Government's view that Uganda should or should not be invited to the next Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI shall not answer the hon. Gentleman's last question because that is a matter for the Commonwealth and for the Secretary-General among others; it is he who issues the invitations. The position is that the 916 talks have begun and we have asked for a date to be set for further negotiations. I will inform the House when we have a date.
6. Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British subjects now remain in Uganda.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Lord Balniel)The size of the British community has not altered significantly since my right hon. Friend gave his last estimate on 19th December and remains at around 3,000, of whom some 450 are Asian United Kingdom passport holders, exempted from the expulsion order of 9th August.—[Vol. 848, c. 1126–34.]
Mr. MitchellCan the right hon. Gentleman confirm that those 3,000 people are not in immediate physical danger? Should they become so in future, have the Government any plans for getting them out?
§ Lord BalnielI have no reason to believe that they are in immediate danger. However, the security and safety of British citizens in Uganda is of paramount importance to Her Majesty's Government.