§ 3.21 p.m.
§ Lord DRUMALBYNMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in ray name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Turkish Cypriot refugees there are now in the British Sovereign Base at Episkopi, under what conditions they are living, and why they are not allowed to go to the destination of their choice.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, there are approximately 8,500 Turkish Cypriots at present living at Paramali in the Western Sovereign Base area. Their living conditions are relatively good and they have adequate shelter and food. There are no restrictions on their freedom of movement between the Western Sovereign Base area and the Republic of Cyprus.
§ Lord DRUMALBYNMy Lords, would the noble Lord not agree, in spite of what he has said, that it is in the interests of all concerned—especially of the refugees—that arrangements should be made as soon as possible for these refugees to go to the places that they choose?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I would agree totally with the noble Lord. At the present Government's suggestion, Mr. Clerides and Mr. Denktash have included the problem of Turkish Cypriots in the Western Sovereign Base area in their current discussions. As a result a small start has been made and 120 Turkish students have been able to leave, while the very old, the very sick, the very young and the pregnant have also been exchanged. But the problem is still great and the rate of movement is probably too slow.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, may I ask whether it is the case that relatives of refugees in Cyprus have had great difficulties in tracing them, notwithstanding the efforts of the Foreign Office through broadcasts over Cyprus Radio and so on? Why is it impossible for a census to be taken of the refugees who are in the Sovereign Base area so that a list can 298 be published and relatives in this country can be assured of their safety?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, I am speaking without exact knowledge, but I understand some such study has taken place and I will arrange to have the noble Lord, Lord Avebury, informed.
§ Lord BETHELLMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that many Turkish Cypriots in the base at Akrotiri are not willing to go to Turkey and from there to the Northern part of the island? So far as my information goes, many of them wish to return as soon as possible to their homes in the Southern part of Cyprus. Will the Government undertake not to connive at any mass compulsory population movement of all these refugees, against the will of some of them, to Turkey and the North of Cyprus?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, as long as these 8,500 Turkish Cypriots are within the Sovereign Base area, there will be no compulsion. Freedom of movement exists and, indeed, even those who, as it were, half-settled in the Akrotiri area move over the border into the Republic of Cyprus to tend their farms and come back into the Base area to sleep at night.
§ Lord DRUMALBYNMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord one other question? He said that the conditions in which these people are living are relatively good. Is he satisfied that they are relatively good for the time of the year, and will he do everything to make certain that between now and the time when arrangements are made for them to go their conditions are improved?
§ Lord W1NTERBOTTOMThe noble Lord is absolutely correct. We are entering the winter period when conditions will become much harsher. We must also not forget that, unfortunately, many Greek Cypriot refugees who are not in the Sovereign Base area will live under equally harsh conditions during this winter. But her Majesty's Government will do what they can.
Lord HAWKEMy Lords, is the Minister satisfied that these people have the basic needs of life such as bread, sugar and salt?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMCertainly my Lords, the basic needs will be 299 ensured. The cost to Her Majesty's Government for the aid given to these refugees is £20,000 a week.