Nicaragua (Hansard, 24 July 1985)

§ 11. Mr. Simon Hughes
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the number of British citizens currently in Nicaragua.

§ Mr. Renton
There are currently estimated to be about 70 British citizens resident in Nicaragua.

§ Mr. Hughes
Will the Minister condemn the actions of one British citizen recently in Nicaragua, an office bearer of the Federation of Conservative Students, Mr. Hoyle, who flaunted his participation with the Contras? Will he assure the House that, no matter where in the world it occurs, the Government will condemn participation with terrorists in actions against any democratically elected Government by any citizen of the United Kingdom, especially those with political responsibilities?

§ Mr. Renton
As my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House remarked last week, I think that I am very much more frightened of the Federation of Conservative Students than the Sandinistas are likely to be. The gentleman who was in Nicaragua was not there as a supporter or delegate of Government policy.

§ Mr. Bill Walker
Will my hon. Friend confirm that, unlike the citizens of many other countries, British citizens are permitted to go to any part of the world where a country will allow them to enter, and that when they are there they are entitled, by the freedoms that we are allowed, to make statements of their beliefs, whatever those statements are?

§ Mr. Renton
Yes, that is right. To refer to the original question, I do not think that British citizens who are in Nicaragua will take any great comfort from the decision of the Greater London council, supported by various Labour Members, to twin London with the Nicaraguan capital of Managua. I do not believe that they will find that a fruitful step.

§ Mr. Foulkes
Why does the Prime Minister condemn some forms of terrorism by some people and not condemn the terrorist action of Mr. Hoyle in taking part in this Contra attack? Why will the Minister not confirm that the Government are equally against that sort of action by an office bearer of the Federation of Conservative Students, which was quite outwith the bounds of any reasonable action? Why is the Minister facing both ways on this issue? Will he now condemn the action of this office bearer, Mr. Hoyle?

§ Mr. Renton
I suppose that I should congratulate the hon. Gentleman, on his return from Nicaragua, on having joined what The Observer described as the Sandanista bib-and-beret brigade". It is quite clear that the problems of Central America, including Nicaragua, will not be solved by force, from whichever side it comes. That is why we support the Contradora process and are pleased with the progress that was made at the meeting that ended yesterday.