HL Deb 15 February 1979 vol 398 cc1400-1

3.28 p.m.

Baroness VICKERS

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 is their present policy in regard to Belize and what action they are taking in view of the People's United Party's Manifesto for an Independent Belize, adopted at Belmopan in April 1978, especially paragraph four which asked the United Kingdom Government to ensure the safety of the Belizean people and preserve their independence.

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, we continue to seek a negotiated settlement to the controversy with Guatemala over Belize. Representatives of the Belize Government and Opposition are involved in the negotiations. No settlement will be made which is unacceptable to the people of Belize.

Baroness VICKERS

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask whether he does not think that these people have been patient enough, that they need their independence and that the state of insecurity in which they are living is most unfortunate in view of the fact that the United Nations has already given its full support?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

Yes, my Lords; some months ago the United Nations supported that position, I think by 120 votes to nil with 12 abstentions, which was an increased majority—if I may put it like that—on the result of the previous resolution the year before.

Baroness ELLES

My Lords, can the Minister inform the House as to the kind of protection that he envisages might be available to Belize, because presumably that is one of the difficulties of providing adequate protection for them once they get their independence? I wonder whether the Minister can say if anything came of the discussions at the Kingston Commonwealth Conference, when, as I understand it, there was a proposal to have some kind of Commonwealth defence force stationed for some time in Belize?

Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS

My Lords, such a possibility is by no means ruled out. However, the nature of a negotiated settlement implies that the Guatamalans would be satisfied with the terms of their settlement, as we hope, and that in itself would be the best guarantee of the integrity of an independent Belize. In the meantime, we are responsible for the defence of Belize and for maintaining a garrison there, and we propose to continue to do that.