HC Deb 22 March 1978 vol 946 cc1504-5
6. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new issues in the field of political co-operation he intends to put on the agenda of the new meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

18. Mr. Rhodes James

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new initiatives in developing political co-operation he is planning for the next meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

Mr. Judd

My right hon. Friend has no plans to raise new issues in political co-operation or initiatives to develop it at present. It is proceeding satisfactorily over a wide field. Political co-operation issues are not normally raised at meetings of the Council, but a Council meeting can be transformed briefly into a meeting in political co-operation, as happened on 7th March, when there was a short discussion on Africa.

Mr. Mills

Surely the Minister agrees that Europe should seize the opportunity of speaking with one voice with regard to many of the world problems that exist at present. Does he agree that very good subjects would be the Middle East and the Horn of Africa? Will he start the initiative, so that something can be thrashed out and something positive done? Some of us are waiting to hear.

Mr. Judd

I assure the hon. Gentleman that these are precisely the sort of issues that are constantly kept under review, not only in the formal meetings of the Nine with regard to political cooperation but in regular meetings between officials that take place between those formal meetings. These discussions take place partly in specialised working groups, which deal with crises in specific areas of the world. I assure the hon. Gentleman that there is no reason to believe that major issues of this sort will not receive priority.

Mr. Rhodes James

Will the Minister and the Secretary of State consider the possibility, together with the other EEC Foreign Ministers, of making friendly representations to the Government of Pakistan concerning the death sentence passed upon former Prime Minister Bhutto? Does the Minister realise that, while in no way wishing to intervene in the internal affairs of Pakistan or in the judicial process, there is deep concern in this country and elsewhere about the implications of that sentence?

Mr. Judd

My right hon. Friend discussed this matter with the President's foreign affairs adviser earlier this week.

Mr. Faulds

With regard to political co-operation, and since we are still responsible for the affairs of Southern Rhodesia, when my right hon. Friend meets his Foreign Minister colleagues will he try to get them to make collective representations to the new puppet regime in Salisbury that political hangings should cease forthwith?

Mr. Judd

I am sure that my hon. Friend, who follows these matters with great attention, will have noticed that other members of the Community have been highly critical of developments within Rhodesia in recent weeks and months.

Mr. John Davies

I should like to return to the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Rhodes James). May I ask the Foreign Secretary to make clear how deeply this country would feel—and what deep effects it might have—if the death sentence were carried out on Mr. Bhutto?

Mr. Judd

I am sure that my right hon. Friend has taken note of what the right hon. Gentleman said.