§ 2.43 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what stage they have reached in their negotiations for a lease of the island of Gan as an R.A.F. base and what repercussions these negotiations are having elsewhere.]
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, on January 22 the High Commissioner in Colombo resumed talks with the Maldivian authorities in continuance of the earlier negotiations about facilities for an airfield on Gan Island. These talks are still continuing, and I should prefer not to make a statement at the present time. I am not aware of any repercussions elsewhere arising directly from these negotiations.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, as there is a good deal of interest in this matter, both in this House and in the country, will the Minister indicate in due course when he is prepared to make a statement?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, as the noble Lord knows, these negotiations have been conducted over a long period and we are most anxious that they should be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. I am afraid that I cannot anticipate when they will be brought to an end.