HC Deb 06 August 1975 vol 897 cc481-3
5. Mr. Rifkind

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests for financial help the Government have received from the Government of Mozambique.

The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. David Ennals)

As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development explained on 9th July, preliminary discussions about aid were held with Frelimo before independence. Further discussions can take place as soon as the Mozambique Government are ready.

Mr. Rifkind

Is the Minister aware of the reply which was given to me by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 11th June when he stated that specific proposals had been made to the Government of Mozambique but that he was not in a position to say what the proposals were for helping that Government to join the sanctions campaign against Rhodesia? Will the Minister say what those proposals were? Will he give the House an assurance that the United Kingdom will not commit itself to paying large sums of money to Mozambique unless there is an international agreement whereby any burden is shared by the United Nations member countries and others?

Mr. Ennals

No. I cannot go beyond what my right hon. Friend said. He was right in pointing out that before independence certain specific proposals had been discussed with the leaders of Frelimo. They know the ideas we have in mind. We are ready to hold discussions with them as soon as they wish, now that an independent Government has been formed in Mozambique. In the meantime those discussions, and such proposals as have been made, are obviously confidential.

Mr. Ioan Evans

Will my right hon. Friend consider giving financial aid to Mozambique, as the Fascist régime in Portugal has ended and Mozambique is moving towards independence and is likely to maintain United Nations sanctions against Rhodesia? Does my right hon. Friend agree that as we shall no longer have to operate the Beira control the money we shall save in that respect should be given to Mozambique to ensure that the illegal régime in Rhodesia is brought to an end at the earliest possible date?

Mr. Ennals

There is no doubt that Mozambique will require a great deal of assistance in developing her economy. We recognise that the application of sanctions will impose a severe burden on Mozambique's economy. That is why we are prepared to contribute generously, in the hope that other United Nations member States will do likewise, preferably within the United Nations framework.

Mr. Maudling

Why cannot the Minister give the assurance for which my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) asked—that any aid from the United Kingdom that is related to United Nations sanctions will be within the United Nations context?

Mr. Ennals

I said that it is our hope that it will be within a United Nations framework, but, as I have said before in answer to the right hon. Gentleman, in deciding the level of United Kingdom aid to a country, we have to determine the level of need of that country. Part of the level of need will be the extent to which Mozambique applies sanctions against Rhodesia, as it is part of her international obligation to do.