§ 8. Mr. Townsendasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his present policy towards General Amin's regime in Uganda.
§ Miss Joan LestorOur policy in Uganda, as elsewhere, is to protect and promote British interests.
§ Mr. TownsendCan the House be told what is the current position regarding 1558 compensation talks? Do the Government seriously think that Uganda will be in any position to honour any agreement that is reached?
§ Miss LestorWe continue to remind the Ugandans of their obligation to pay prompt, adequate and effective compensation for all British properties expropriated in Uganda. Uganda has acknowledged this obligation, and official talks took place in Kampala in September, but I have no further report on the present situation following those talks.
§ Mr. FarrIs it not about time that we took a more robust attitude with Uganda and made it clear to General Amin that his policies are intolerable as far as we are concerned? Moreover should we not, temporarily at any rate, withdraw our High Commission offices?
§ Miss LestorI do not think that anybody on this side of the House has done anything other than show a great deal of concern for the policies of General Amin. We are not in any way condoning anything he has done. With regard to the withdrawal of our mission, although it is depleted our High Commission is still able to protect British interests and at the moment we see advantage in maintaining a diplomatic presence in Kampala as long as there is effective work to be done there. We are watching the situation.