THE FALKLAND ISLANDS: SHACKLETON REPORT (Hansard, 16 January 1979)

§ Baroness ELLES
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§ The MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (Lord Goronwy-Roberts)
My Lords, considerable progress has been made in implementing those proposals which involve assistance from the aid programme. Construction has begun of both the Stanley Darwin Road and the Stanley school hostel, a new aircraft for the air services has been ordered, as have an ambulance and X-ray equipment for the medical service. A road construction unit has been set up as an important part of a considerable strengthening of the Public Works Department. The Grasslands Trials Unit has been given increasing support. Finally, the new Development Officer and a Fiscal Adviser are now in post and many advisory visits have been made to the Falklands, some in addition to those recommended in the noble Lord's report.

§ Baroness ELLES
My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord for that helpful reply. Could he go a little further and say what consideration has been given by the Government to the proposal for a survey on the fishing potential in the seas around the Falkland Islands and particularly to the survey proposed by the South Atlantic Fisheries Committee?

§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS
My Lords, I have no immediate information on that point which, I agree, is an extremely important one. Perhaps it would be helpful if I remind the House—I do not think that I need remind the noble Baroness—that we are in discussion with the Argentinian Government on the general possibility of economic co-operation in the area. It seems to me, at first look, that this point may well come within the ambit of those discussions.

§ Lord AVEBURY
My Lords, while our discussion with the Argentinian Government proceeds and the ultimate status of the Falkland Islands remains unsettled, would it not be extremely unwise for us to sell military weapons of any kind to the Argentine? Will the noble Lord confirm that General Orlando Agosti, a member of the three-man military junta in Argentine, is coming to Great Britain in January with the particular purpose of examining the Hawk aircraft? Further, will the noble Lord state that no export licences for weapons of this character will be granted for Argentina while we are still in discussion on these important matters relating to the Falkland Islands?

§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS
My Lords, the noble Lord has raised a number of questions which are not relevant to the Question which has been put to me. On the other hand, he has made his points and, as always, I and the Government I represent will bear them in mind.

§ The Earl of LAUDERDALE
My Lords, will the noble Lord say anything about the Stanley Airport? Would he say whether or not it appears to be the case that a small enlargement of the airport by lengthening the runway, plus a minor improvement in passenger handling and fire-fighting facilities, will make a big difference to the value of that airport as a critical link in communications relative to the economic future of the islands?

§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS
My Lords, we are well aware of that view and, like all suggestions relating to the airfield and airport, it is being taken into account in our consideration. It is, however, the fact that the cost of any extension would have to be considered in relation to the probable user of the extended facilities. 845 At the moment, I can give no indication that the Government are considering any extension for that reason.

Viscount MASSEREENE and FER-RARD
My Lords, since, apparently, we are going to give £38 million to Tanzania to build a road across a wilderness, would the noble Lord not agree that we should "lean over backwards" to give financial help to the Falkland Islands which have strong ties of blood and loyalty with this country?

§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS
My Lords, I willingly support the central point put by the noble Viscount. There are in this country strong feelings of solidarity with the Falkland Islanders. Indeed, I see that our aid provision for the Islands per capita exceeds that which we make to any other country, including the one mentioned by the noble Viscount.

§ Baroness ELLES
My Lords, as the population of the Falkland Islands is only 1,800, I imagine that it is not very difficult to reach that figure. In relation to the future of the Falkland Islands, would the Minister let the House know what is the Government opinion of the proposal that the territory might be handed over to the Argentine and the Islanders remain British; and whether the Government would give an absolute assurance that no decision will be taken either with regard to the territory or with regard to the future of the Islanders without not only full consultation but also public consultation with the Islanders?

§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS
My Lords, on quite a number of occasions, I have given the assurance sought by the noble Baroness and I willingly and enthusiastically give it once more today. Proposals will not even be put to Parliament without the full acceptance of the Falkland Islanders. As to the first part of the supplementary question put by the noble Baroness, the answer to the second part governs it. Our policy is based firmly on the agreement of the Islanders to whatever may be proposed.

Lord MORRIS
My Lords, will Her Majesty's Government be good enough to inform your Lordships' House of the nature and extent of the scientific co-operation agreement between Her 846 Majesty's Government and that of Argentina, particularly in light of the fact that they have already been good enough to inform a delegation of the Legislative Council of the Falkland Islands on 7th January of this year?

§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS
My Lords, when my honourable friend the Minister who deals with this part of the world, Mr. Rowlands, met the Argentinian representatives in Geneva in December, he was able to achieve agreement in principle that there should be scientific co-operation in this area, an objective which I think is shared by everybody in this House and, I hope, in both countries. However, this is agreement in principle and has been referred to the two Governments concerned, those of the United Kingdom and of the Argentine, and also to the Falkland Islands Council. I am not yet in a position to say what are the results of that consideration by those Governments; but as soon as it is clear what the conclusions are by those various Governments, a full statement will be made to the House in accordance with the noble Lord's very proper request.

§ The Earl of LAUDERDALE
My Lords, going back to Stanley Airport, would the noble Lord tell us whether we are to take it from his earlier reply on that subject that alginate industries have not shown an interest in the airport?

§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS
Not necessarily, my Lords. I confined myself to a statement of fact: namely, it seems to us that any proposal for any extension in size or facilities of the airfield and airport at present do not seem likely to be justified by probable future user. I was not addressing myself to who is interested in such an extension. Indeed, my Department and the relevant Departments in Whitehall will be very glad to see whoever has an interest and is able to produce evidence of future user.