§ 4.43 p.m.
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the order, laid before the House on 11th December 1979 be approved.—(Lord Trefgarne.)
416§ Lord ELWYN-JONESMy Lords, there is just one question I should like to ask. It is a somewhat complicated order which the noble Lord, Lord Trefgarne, helped us by explaining. What is the position with regard to the discharge of liabilities incurred by the Smith regime during the period of UDI? Are those liabilities now to become the liabilities of the United Kingdom Government, either immediately or in the long run, or are they to be the inheritance of whatever new Government may emerge after the elections take place?
§ Lord TREFGARNEMy Lords, I cannot say what will be the position of the new Government when they take office in regard to these liabilities. They will certainly not be a liability upon Her Majesty's Government. I suppose the truthful answer is that they will be the result of negotiations between the creditors and the new Government of Rhodesia when they come into office.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.