Persian Gulf

HC Deb 14 February 1979 vol 962 cc1120-2

7. Mr. Temple-Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has plans to visit the Sultanate of Oman or any other part of the Persian Gulf.

Mr. Judd

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend is attending on Her Majesty the Queen while she visits Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. I will visit Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, also in attendance on the Queen next week.

Mr. Temple-Morris

Can the hon. Gentleman assure the House that while the Foreign Secretary is in those parts he will make every possible effort to rectify the serious lack of confidence in the West and its capacity to act in the defence of that area? Does he agree that we shall not get far towards that end unless there is an effective military alliance to cover that part of the world?

Mr. Judd

I think the hon. Gentleman will agree, on reflection, that the lesson of recent history is that real security and stability must rest on arrangements that make political sense in the context of the countries concerned. My right hon. Friend and I will, of course, be discussing with Ministers in the Gulf the mutual problems in that area. Obviously, the need for stability in the Gulf is of profound importance for us.

Mr. Watkinson

Is my hon. Friend aware that we welcome the recognition which the Government have extended to the new regime in Iran? Can he tell the House whether his right hon. Friend will have any contact with that new regime? Ought not we at least to congratulate the new regime on ridding itself of one of the most repellent secret police forces in the world? Has any estimate been made yet of the degree of shortfall in oil supplies coming from the Gulf area as a result of what has taken place?

Mr. Judd

Evaluations of oil supplies are being made as of now about the implications of what has happened. Of course, there will be serious consequences for world supplies. That cannot be denied. As for the general position on relationships, I am glad to tell the House that our ambassador already is establishing good working relationships with the new Government in Iran.

Mr. Maurice Macmillan

Will the hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, as a result of their discussions in the Gulf countries, undertake to open discussions with the United States Government to see what action may be required by the NATO Alliance to provide greater stability in an area of the world where recent events, especially those in Iran, have gone a very long way towards destabilisation?

Mr. Judd

I do not think that we see NATO as fulfilling, as NATO, a function in the Gulf. However, we believe that because of the inescapability of international interdependence in these matters we must all face the need to support those with responsibility locally for stability in the Gulf in any way that makes sense.

Mr. Newens

Do not recent events in Iran demonstrate that autocracy and dictatorship have no future in the area against the demands of the people for democracy and elementary rights? In the circumstances, should not we make it clear to the Sultan of Oman that, unless he is prepared to introduce democracy into his country, in the long run his regime can no more survive than did that of the Shah?

Mr. Judd

What everyone in the House will recognise is that recent events have made it clear that, in any part of the world, eventually the Government depend upon consent—[HON. MEMBERS: "Hear hear!"] As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is making plain constantly in the context of domestic issues, that applies in this country as well. I understand that in recent months my hon. Friend, with his own special interest in these matters, has been one of the most prominent hon. Members of the House arguing that we should not interfere in the internal politics of other countries and that we must leave it to the people of these countries to find their way forward.

Mr. Pym

In view of the implications for all the countries surrounding the Persian Gulf of recent events in Iran, and in view of British interests in the whole area, will the Minister consult his right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary when he returns at the weekend and undertake to make a full statement to the House next week about the events in Iran, especially the effect of those events upon trade with Britain, oil supplies, defence contracts and banking?

Mr. Judd

I assure the right hon. Gentleman that we have every intention of keeping the House fully informed of the implications of what has happened for Britain and, indeed, for our other friends and allies.