§ 11.18 a.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 whether they will open or re-open this year any small diplomatic posts (or "mini-missions") of the type referred to in the CPRS Report, having regard to export promotion, aid, strategic and political criteria and historical friendly relations.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, we plan to re-open a resident Mission in Honduras and to establish one for the first time in Gabon by the summer. The Honduran and Gabonese Governments have welcomed our initiative.
§ Lord MERRIVALEMy Lords, I should like to thank the Minister for that Answer, particularly with regard to Gabon, because I know that President Bongo has been keen for this and there are many economic reasons for opening a diplomatic post in Gabon—
§ A noble Lord: Question!
§ Lord MERRIVALEMy Lords, may I ask the Minister how it is, in effect, that such a decision has not been reached in respect of Madagascar? Would he explain how it is that after a decision was reached in July 1975 to close the post there, against 1920 what was felt to be a wrong decision—my Lords, I will leave it there.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I know the noble Lord's particular interest in Madagascar and I have no doubt he is aware that Her Majesty's Ambassador at Dar-es-Salaam has been accredited as a non-resident Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Madagascar since 1975, when our resident Mission there was closed. This arrangement is considered adequate to maintain our essential interests there. But having regard to what the noble Lord has said, I shall certainly ask my right honourable friend to reconsider the case of Madagascar, though I am sure the noble Lord appreciates that my right honourable friend will need to have regard to other claims on our resources in these matters.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he agrees that it would be much better to replace these mini-missions and strengthen the trade side of our Embassies abroad, rather than continue to support the Crown Agents who do not seem to have done very well lately?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I think the general principle is that it is left to Her Majesty's Ambassadors to decide how to deploy the manpower which is at their command, although one recognises that, in the mini-missions, specialisation is not easy.
§ Lord GLADWYNMy Lords, are the Government contemplating closing down any further Missions, other than those already closed down, as a result of the CPRS Report?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, my right honourable friend has made it clear in another place that the Government will not take final decisions on the CPRS Review until they have heard the views of Parliament on the matter. The Defence and External Affairs Sub-Committee, which has been taking evidence in relation to that review, has not yet reported, so that there is really nothing to announce about firm decisions.
§ Baroness ELLESMy Lords, in view of what the Minister has said, can he reassure the House that members of the 1921 British information services in the United States have not been notified that their services will no longer be required?
§ Viscount ECCLESMy Lords, can the Minister tell me whether, if no posts have yet been closed as a result of the Think Tank's report, his right honourable friend will take into consideration the fact that these mini-posts are extremely useful in the education field, because they find out which students want to come here? That was not mentioned in the Think Tank's report.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I am sure that that view will be conveyed to my right honourable friend, and, certainly, the value of so-called mini-missions is fully appreciated by my right honourable friend.
§ Lord MERRIVALEMy Lords, does the Minister agree that his initial statement this morning will cause disquiet with the Malagasy Government? Secondly, does he not agree that, in effect, two of the roles of a diplomatic post are export promotion and aid administration? Further, is he aware that, since the closure of our Embassy at Tananarive, our exports have not risen at all like those of Germany? Finally, as aid administration is part of the role of a post, does the Minister not welcome the fact that Her Majesty's Government have increased their co-operation assistance to that country since the closure?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I knew of the considerations in the noble Lord's mind, particularly those of trade and aid. With that in view, I indicated that I should be prepared to ask my right honourable friend to include Madagascar in his review of mini-missions.