HL Deb 12 March 1969 vol 300 cc460-2
LORD SORENSEN

My 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 British troops are still stationed in Guyana, and what assistance in medical services they are rendering to Guyana.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, the Answer to the noble Lord's Question is that British troops are no longer stationed in Guyana.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, may I take it, therefore, that the situation in Guyana is now quiet, if not amicable? Would the noble Lord answer the second part of my Question, which he omitted to do, regarding medical services?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I am afraid that in the light of my Answer the second part of the noble Lord's Question does not apply, unless I have misread the Question. As there are no British troops in Guyana, they can scarcely be rendering any medical services. To answer the first and perhaps more serious part of his supplementary question, the situation in Guyana at the moment from the internal security point of view, is quiet.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that both parts of my Question were serious and not humorous? Would he inform me whether the British Government, through any of their Departments, assist financially doctors from this country who are willing to spend some time in assisting medically the people in Guyana?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I am sorry, but I had no intention of suggesting that either part of my noble friend's question was facetious or humorous. I thought, perhaps wrongly, that my answer came into that category. The reply to the question about medical assistance other than military medical assistance, to which the initial Question referred, is that the Ministry of Overseas Development have an aid programme to Guyana, which includes assistance in the development of medical facilities in the area.

LORD CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH

My Lords, could the noble Lord say whether there have recently been any threats from Venezuela claiming about a third of Guyana?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, as the noble Lord will know, Venezuela has an existing claim to certain parts of Guyana territory, but the question of threats has not arisen.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, can the noble Lord say whether there is any truth in a report in the American Press, which I read to-day, that the Amerindian population of Guyana living on the Venezuelan border has now come out in favour of Mr. Burnham's Government, whereas previously they have been suspected siding with Venezuela?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I have not seen the report, and this matter goes rather wide of the original Question, if we get any information of that kind I will bring it to the attention of your Lordships' House.