§ 3.2 p.m.
§ Lord MERRIVALEMy 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, bearing in mind that under Cmnd. 5712 (with reference to Cyprus), "Military personnel and civilians detained as a result of the recent hostilities shall be either exchanged or released ߪ within the shortest time possible"; (a) what is the present position regarding refugees, and (b) what assistance they are giving to ease the plight of these people.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, all prisoners have been released but few displaced persons have been able to return to their original homes. Her Majesty's Government have contributed well over £1 million for their welfare.
§ Lord MERRIVALEMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for that Answer, I should like to ask him what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure the implementation of the Security Council's Resolution 361 of 30th August 1974, within the shortest possible time—particularly in respect of the expressed grave concern at the plight of refugees—while urging the parties concerned to permit persons who wish to do so to return to their homes in safety. May I ask the 643 Minister whether he is aware—and I am sure he is—of the unanimously adopted Resolution of the General Assembly on 1st November last, by 117 votes, which included those from Turkey, Cyprus and Greece, and which called upon all parties concerned to undertake urgent measures to that end?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are doing everything in their power to forward the purposes of both Resolutions. The latter was all the stronger for being unanimously approved, and for having included votes from both Turkey and Greece. I have indicated the extent of the help we have already given in practical terms.
§ Lord AVEBURYMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he is aware that during our Question Time last Thursday when I raised this matter the noble Lord, Lord Winterbottom, said that a review was being conducted on the possibility of taking a census of refugees who had arrived in the Sovereign base areas in Cyprus, and that he would let me know what were the possibilities? Is the noble Lord further aware that if such a census were taken, and if the names of the people concerned were published in this country, it might give some reassurance to many of their friends and relatives who have been unable to trace them since the emergency? Could I ask the noble Lord whether he would be kind enough to look into this as a matter of some urgency?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I will myself look into this at the request of the noble Lord. I believe that my noble friend is on the point of writing to him on this matter.
§ Lord MERRIVALEMy Lords, may I further ask the Minister whether, in effect, the Government are well seized of the fact that the refugee problem, apart from its grave humanitarian aspects, is also wrecking the economy of the island? May I also ask the Minister whether the Harbottle Report has been brought to his attention?—because it suggests that the economy of the island, if it is to be restored to health, will need a prodigious injection of foreign capital.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, a wide range of reports, including that mentioned by the noble Lord, have been brought to the attention of my right honourable friend and myself, and they are the subject of practical suggestions in the right quarters. The noble Lord is quite right in saying that the number of displaced persons in Cyprus represents a very serious economic problem as well as a serious humanitarian one.