§ 3.15 p.m.
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
[The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether negotiations with the Government of Libya have been completed, and with what result.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN)My Lords, negotiations with the Government of Libya have not yet been completed. Discussions are at present continuing at diplomatic level.
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, may I ask the noble Marquess whether it has not taken a very long time to come to some conclusion with the revolutionary junta in Libya? May I also ask whether full consideration will be given to compensation for the United Kingdom on account of the vast array of material that has been left in Libya? May I further ask the noble Marquess whether the Government have now abandoned the notion of providing Chieftain tanks to Libya?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, as the noble Lord will be aware, the negotiations are of a complex nature but they are proceeding reasonably satisfactorily. As to the question of compensation, and indeed in regard to the Chieftain tanks, these are all points which Her Majesty's Government are bearing in mind during the negotiations.
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, may I ask the noble Marquess whether it is not true to say that the reason why the negotiations have become very complicated is because of the blackmailing efforts of the Libyan Government on the subject of the cost of oil produced in Libya and which is made available from time to time to the United Kingdom?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I think the question of the oil costs really falls in to a different category, but I should like to assure the noble Lord that Her Majesty's Government are carefully considering British interests in these negotiations which, as I have said, are complicated and technical. We are hopeful that the result will be satisfactory to both sides.