§ 4. Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has given any consideration to a scheme to compensate any Falkland Islanders wishing resettlement following the conclusion of an agreement with Argentina on the future of the Falklands.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Tim Eggar)No. The Falkland Islanders have consistently made clear through their elected representatives their wish to remain in the Falklands under British sovereignty.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIn so far as we shall be spending one third of a million pounds this year for every Falkland Islands citizen, that we shall have spent since 1982 nearly £2 million on every Falkland Island citizen and we simply cannot afford it, is it not now about time that we considered some sort of resettlement grant for people in the Falkland Islands, giving them the option either to stay or to emigrate from those islands under a negotiated settlement with Argentina?
§ Mr. EggarThe hon. Gentleman is well aware that the Falkland Islanders wish to remain in the Falklands under British sovereignty. They have always had the option to leave the Falkland Islands and come to this country if they so wished. The fact is that they have not wished, and, indeed, the population in the Falklands has increased, not decreased, since the conflict.
§ Mr. Bill WalkerDoes my hon. Friend agree that in a world where democracy is in a minority it would be a mistake ever to give up simply because the balance sheet said that we could not afford it? If we could not afford a democracy, we would never have had it. It is not something on a balance sheet.
§ Mr. CanavanCould the Foreign Office not take some steps to resettle Sir Rex Hunt in some remote territory, because, despite being deprived of his colonial governor's hat, he seems to be strutting around all over the place making stupid statements and doing his best to torpedo any chance of a reasonable, peaceful negotiated settlement betwen Britain and Argentina on the future of the Falkland Islands?
§ Mr. EggarSir Rex Hunt gave distinguished service in the Falkland Islands and I am frankly amazed that the hon. Gentleman believes in curtailing the freedom of speech.
§ Mr. StokesIs my hon. Friend aware that the previous question was, typically, most mischievous? [Interruption.] Is there no question of the Falkland Islanders living there if they wish to, or going elsewhere if they wish to? Why such a defeatist question? Whose side is the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) on—England's or Argentina's?
§ Mr. EggarIt is both mischievous and typical, and the House in its response to my hon. Friend's question has given its answer.