§ 8. Mr. Bellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed with the Uganda Government the question of compensation for expropriated property and assets of British citizens.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI discussed this question with the Prime Minister of Uganda this morning. I told him of the importance we attach to seeing significant progress made in settling these claims. Mr. Allimadi explained that work was already in hand and that he understood the importance of the matter.
§ Mr. BellNotwithstanding the discussions that took place this morning, is it the Government's intention, in the light of a recent High Court decision, to allow a test case 309 of a Ugandan on the question of compensation, to see whether Ugandan law is effective? Is it the Government's intention to put Ugandans settled here through the mincemeat of our legal machinery, or will they take into account the magnificent decision that was taken in the early '70s by the right hon. Member for what is now Old Bexley and Sidcup (Mr. Heath), when he was Prime Minister, to allow Ugandans to settle here? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman accept that this is a valid criterion and pursue more positively with the Ugandan Government the question of the restitution of assets to Ugandans who have settled here which are validly and legally theirs?
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe hon. Gentleman, in talking about putting those people through the legal machinery, may have misunderstood the position. An application for a judicial review will be heard by the High Court in this country next year. That is sub judice, and it would not be proper for me to say anything about it. The real remedy — I think that it is the one for which the hon. Gentleman is pressing—is effective implementation of the remedies that are available to the claimants under the law in Uganda. The important aspect, which I stressed to the Ugandan Prime Minister this morning, is the need to press ahead with the implementation of that law, to produce the remedies that the hon. Gentleman seeks. I received the assurance which I have reported to the House.
§ Mr. George RobertsonThe House will welcome the vigour with which the Foreign Secretary is pursuing this matter, but the real issue is whether local legal remedies are available to Ugandan Asians in the courts of Uganda. As the initial decision by the court in this country was that there were no legal remedies, can the Foreign Secretary reiterate the assurance given by his predecessor, in his letter to my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey), that if no legal remedies are available in Uganda the British Government will accept responsibility for all the claims?
§ Sir Geoffrey HowePlainly, if that turns out to be the position we shall have to reconsider the matter. What is important is whether there are Ugandan remedies and whether they are effective. Our representations have been directed towards that end. The law exists. There has been some delay in establishing the membership of the verification committee, but I have been assured that that will be put right and that steps are being taken to process these claims. We shall continue to maintain pressure to secure further progress in that direction, which I am sure is the right way in which to resolve the matter.