HC Deb 22 February 1978 vol 944 cc1430-1
13. Sir Bernard Braine

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it plain in any negotiations with the Argentine over sovereignty on the Falkland Islands that the wishes of the islanders will be ascertained directly by referendum before any changes are made and that the arrangements for any such referendum will have to be approved by the United Kingdom Parliament.

Mr. Rowlands

We have made it clear to the Argentine Government that any proposals affecting the future of the Falkland Islands must be acceptable to the islanders themselves. The method by which the islanders may express their wishes on any proposals will first be a matter for discussion with their elected representatives, the Islands councils.

Sir B. Braine

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the distaste felt by many Members on both sides of the House that the Government are holding any talks on sovereignty by a military dictatorship over a free, democratic British community? If the Government are caught in a trap, will the hon. Gentleman give a categoric assurance not only that there will be a referendum but that the arangements for it will be discussed in this House and that no steps will be taken in advance to surrender the economic viability of the Falkland Islands to the Argentine without full consultation with Parliament?

Mr. Rowlands

The House and the islanders have been given the best assurances that any Government have ever given about their future and their economic and political development. My answer on that question was absolute.

Mr. James Johnson

Since it is evident from their geographical location that the Falkland Islands must live with their neighbour on the mainland, the Argentine, can my hon. Friend tell us, in regard to his talks in New York, what steps he is taking on commercial and other types of co-operation and collaboration with the Argentine, particularly in fishing and oil?

Mr. Rowlands

Part of the negotiations is concerned with economic co-operation, particularly in regard to offshore resources of the sort mentioned by my hon. Friend.

Mr. Luce

It makes sense to encourage economic co-operation between the Argentine and the Falkland Islands, but can the hon. Gentleman tell us what is the point of having discussions with the Argentine on the question of the Falkland Islands' sovereignty, or with Guatemala on the question of the sovereignty of Belsize, when there is clearly no desire on the part of the Falkland Islanders or the people of Belsize to change their sovereignty?

Mr. Rowlands

The hon. Gentleman is mixing up two problems. In the case of the Falkland Islands, to which the Question is directed, I had lengthy discussions with the islanders in February before the beginning of the negotiations and I made clear that it would be impossible to talk just about economic co-operation without political issues, including sovereignty, being raised. It would have been unrealistic to think otherwise.