5. Mr. Ron Brownasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom's relations with Portugal.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Tim Eggar)AngloPortuguese relations are excellent. This year we are celebrating the 600th anniversary of the treaty of Windsor. This historical alliance is complemented by our joint membership of NATO and the European Community. Bilateral trade and tourism continue to flourish.
Mr. BrownAs there have been repeated calls for the release of Nelson Mandela, will the Government continue with their principled position by approaching the Portuguese Government and suggesting that it would be appropriate now to release Otelo Carualho, the leader of the 1974 revolution against Fascism? Is that not appropriate?
§ Mr. EggarIt would not be appropriate for us to interfere in what is an internal judicial matter affecting Portugal.
§ Mr. WilkinsonWill my hon. Friend and the rest of the Foreign Office team use their best influences to grant a favourable response to the application for membership of the Western European Union which was lodged by the Portuguese Government some time ago and has since then languished upon the table?
§ Mr. EggarI shall certainly bear my hon. Friend's point in mind. I know that there are other right hon. and hon. Members who feel similarly.