HL Deb 21 February 1973 vol 339 cc125-6
LORD BROCKWAY

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 what conclusions have been reached by the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee on the application by Zambia for Commonwealth assistance in developing export-import routes alternative to routes through Rhodesia:

THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)

My Lords, on February 19 the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee had exploratory discussions on aid to Zambia. A sub-committee is to study the question in detail.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that Answer, may I ask whether Her Majesty's Government will give support to Canada in the strong support which Canada in turn is giving to Zambia in this difficulty; and particularly in view of the announcement this morning that Botswana has courageously announced that she is prepared to have an airlift, will Her Majesty's Government give the fullest aid to Zambia, which has probably suffered more from our policy and the policy of the United Nations, because of its loyalty, than any other territory?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, we do in fact give aid to Zambia, and the Minister for Overseas Development has recently been in Lusaka and has had discussions with the Zambian Government. Our aid to Zambia amounts to £7 million a year. The proceedings of this Committee are confidential and the United Kingdom is a member of the sub-committee which will discuss in detail what is needed.

LORD AVEBURY

My Lords, would it be helpful if, in addition to the financial aid, we offered the use of Hercules aircraft of the Royal Air Force to assist with the transport of goods out from Zambia to Dar-es-Salaam and other ports?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, all these matters are being discussed in the subcommittee. We gave £24 million of aid, including the cost of the oil air lift, from I.D.I. to 1968. We have to find the details of what is really needed.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that answer, is it not a fact that much more is necessary in the present crisis after the closing of the frontier with Rhodesia? Is it not now necessary to give essential aid to get alternative routes to Dar-es-Salaam through the road and railway connection, and with Botswana, to assist Zambia in this situation?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

Yes, my Lords, but, as I have said, the purpose of the sub-committee is to decide what is essential aid.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness which side of the frontier is closed at the moment?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, Zambia has closed her frontier with Rhodesia.

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, to put it in its correct perspective, who closed the border first?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, I think we all know that Rhodesia closed the border first.

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