HL Deb 11 March 1968 vol 290 cc4-6

4.12 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, in rising to put the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper, may I, with your Lordships' permission, correct a drafting error in the printed Question? It should have referred to the months of November and December, 1967. I have informed the Department accordingly.

[The Question, as printed, was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government for what purposes orders to value of £2,317,626 were fulfilled in Nigeria by the Crown Agents during November, 1967, what orders have been placed since, and for what purpose.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (LORD SHEPHERD)

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. Except where British aid funds are involved, Her Majesty's Government are not concerned with the transactions of the Crown Agents whose responsibility is to the overseas Governments and other bodies who are their principals.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that Answer, I would ask him these further questions. Is he aware that in December 1967, ten of the fifteen orders over £50,000 were supplied to the Nigerian Army; and, in view of the terrible civil war in Nigeria, would the Government approach those other Governments—those of the Soviet Union, France and Portugal—that are supplying arms, either to one side of the other, for a total cessation of arms for this civil war? Secondly, would he approach the Commonwealth Governments, particularly those in Africa (I am aware of what the Commonwealth Secretariat is doing), with a view to bringing this disastrous war to an end?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, the activities of the Commonwealth Secretariat to bring a peaceful solution to Nigeria are still proceeding. In regard to the supply of arms to the Federal Government of Nigeria—the legal Government—I have nothing further to add to what I said on January 29. I am bound to say that if we ourselves, and other suppliers to either side, were to cease supplying weapons this might not necessarily bring the solution we are all seeking. My Lords, we have a responsibility to continue to supply reasonable quantities of arms to the legal Government of Nigeria, but I will certainly see that the point that the noble Lord has made is again considered by my right honourable friend.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I thank my noble friend. Would he press the proposal that there should be some Commonwealth or United Nations peacekeeping force?—because it is now quite clear that this is not just a police action but may be a long and disastrous war.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, we discussed this point the other day, and I suggest to my noble friend that his supplementary question is a little wider than the Question on the Order Paper. We should naturally consider very sympathetically the creation of a peacekeeping force in Nigeria but, as I said in the debate which the noble Lord initiated, this would require the agreement of both sides.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, could my noble friend tell me what precedents there are for supplying arms to one side in a civil war?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I am sure there are precedents for this. We are continuing to supply weapons to the legal Government of Nigeria.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, in view of the last but one answer which the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, made to supplementary questions, that the Government are prepared to look at the idea of a Commonwealth peace-keeping force, may I take it that, in view of the very great obligation which might be incurred, the Government will also look at the possibility of retaining some of the county regiments, the British Regiments of the Line, which they propose to destroy?

LORD SHEPHERD

I congratulate the noble Lord on the way he has stretched this Question.

LORD MILVERTON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, one question? Is he aware that those who have some knowledge of Nigeria are strongly in support of the policy and of the recent statements of Her Majesty's Government in this matter? May I also ask whether it is not high time to suggest that the continual repetition of the same sort of Question to Her Majesty's Government is serving no public purpose, not even the purpose which is apparent, that of encouraging the arrival of peace in that country?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, this is a policy to which Her Majesty's 5overnment have given, and will continue to give, great consideration. Whether a noble Lord should ask this Question in different shapes or forms is clearly a matter for the House, but I should have thought that was the purpose of your Lordships' House.