HL Deb 11 November 1975 vol 365 cc1669-70
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 progress has been made in preparing a report on the situation in Cyprus by the Committee appointed by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference at Kingston.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, the Commonwealth Committee on Cyprus has met on two occasions, 30th July and 22nd September. It has of course made reports to Commonwealth Heads of Government and, in line with its mandate of maintaining close liaison with the United Nations' Secretary-General, has kept closely in touch with him.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him this question: In view of the tragic situation in Cyprus, is it not desirable that this Committee should rather speed up its proceedings? Can the Minister tell me who is its convener and whether the British Government are represented on it?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, we are certainly represented on this Commonwealth Committee. I should need to have notice of the question as to who is the Committee's convener. It has an ad hocsecretariat, which I imagine convenes the Committee. As to whether it is desirable that it should speed up its deliberations and recommendations—certainly. We are not the only member of this Committee. I have no reason to believe that it has not proceeded with due and appropriate expedition in its study and recommendations both to Heads of Government and to the United Nations' Secretary-General. I think the spirit as well as the content of my noble friend's supplementary will be very much borne in mind by those responsible for this Committee.

Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTON

My Lords, would not we be in a better position on this Committee if we had not welshed on our responsibilities in Cyprus long ago?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, while not an uninterrupted admirer of my noble friend's prose style, I will take exception with him on another basis. Our policy in regard to Cyprus has been explained so many times in this House and in the other place that I should think that noble Lords and everybody else are well aware of it. First, we seek a grass-roots agreement without which no overlaying agreement in Geneva or otherwise will last very long. Secondly, we hope that it will be possible on that basis to move to Geneva or some other cognate international venue under the auspices of the United Nations and with the immediate promotion of the United Nations' Secretary-General. Bilaterally we are doing everything we can, day by day, week by week, to promote that policy. One of the ways in which we are trying to help that along is by active participation in the Commonwealth Committee to which my noble friend drew notice in his Question.