HL Deb 25 January 1972 vol 327 cc263-4
LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what response they have made to the communiqués of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee regarding, respectively, the proposed settlement in Southern Rhodesia and the breach of sanctions.]

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLICOE)

My Lords, the Press statements issued after recent meetings of the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee do not appear to call for any specific response on the part of Her Majesty's Government. Certain points were raised at the latest of these meetings regarding the conduct of the Test of Acceptability on which appropriate action has been taken. As was made clear at that meeting, Her Majesty's Government have no evidence that the new situation has led to any breach of our continuing sanctions regulations

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, in thanking the Minister, may I ask him whether he realises that he has omitted reference to the ommuniqué of the Commonwealth Secretariat which was separate from the ommuniqué of the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee? Can he indicate to the House what was the nature of that ommuniqué and what has been the response of Her Majesty's Government to it?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, it was my understanding that the Commonwealth Secretariat were at least a party to the communiqué, but I should like to take note of what the noble Lord has said and, if I am wrong about this, perhaps I can communicate with him afterwards. He should not read any particular significance into my omission, but I should like to clear that up with him

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I appreciate that, but is the noble Earl aware that my Question does refer in the plural to "communiqués"; and the communiqué of the Commonwealth Secretariat referred to the proposed settlement in Southern Rhodesia, while the communiqué of the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee referred to the breach of sanctions. There were two quite separate questions

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, if the noble Lord has any specific question on the communiqué of the Commonwealth Secretariat, I shall be happy to respond, if he would care to put it to me, either by way of supplementary now or by way of a further Question

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I will not delay the House now.

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