§ 2.39 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the inquiry by the Ministry of Defence and the Commonwealth Relations Office into a possible breach of the embargo on selling arms to Rhodesia has been concluded and, if so, what decisions have ensued.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, I assume that the noble Lord is referring to a report which appeared in the Press on Sunday, October 22. Inquiry into this matter has revealed no evidence that any breach of the embargo on selling arms to Rhodesia has occurred. Disciplinary action in relation to the activities of a retired officer employed by the Ministry of Defence is, however, under consideration.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply, and he is correct in thinking that I was basing my question on a report by the Defence Correspondent of The Times. In accepting the explanation which I have given, would he tell me how long it is likely to be before these inquiries into the activities of an ex-official are concluded?
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I must say that I am slightly at a loss to know whether we are both talking about the same thing. As I said, disciplinary action is being considered for a present official, not an ex-official—that is, if it is the same case—and I really think I should not comment further on that subject which is under consideration. So far as the rest of the matter is concerned, the inquiry has shown that there was no evidence of any breach of the embargo on selling arms to Rhodesia. This is governed by a particular Statutory Instrument, 1966, No. 1595, and there was no breach. I do not know whether the noble Lord was directing his question wider than that, but I have answered it in those terms.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that, quite obviously, we are dealing with the same point? I apparently misheard him in thinking that he referred to a retired official. May I ask him whether he is also aware that the statement by the Defence Correspondent of The Times was, on the other hand, that an official was concerned in this inquiry?
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, I am afraid that I am not helping my noble friend as much as I should like to do. I thought I said "a retired officer." If I said "a retired official" I am sorry. It is a retired officer who is at present an official.
§ LORD FRASER OF LONSDALEMy Lords, in view of the desire, which I am sure Her Majesty's Government must share, that law and order should prevail in every territory for which they are responsible, will Her Majesty's Government remove the ban, so far as Rhodesia and every other territory for which they are responsible are concerned, on police arms—that very narrow limit of arms which are required to maintain law and order?
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, that is a much wider point than arises out of this Question. This particular matter is governed by policies and Statutory Instruments approved by Parliament.