HL Deb 19 May 1980 vol 409 cc551-2

2.59 p.m.

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (Lord Carrington)

My Lords, with your Lordships' permission, I shall make a Statement on Iran following the decisions taken during the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Nine in Naples on 17th and 18th May. A copy of the Statement issued by the Foreign Ministers of the Nine will be printed in the Official Report.

We reviewed the latest developments in Iran. There were some grounds for encouragement, but nothing which constituted decisive progress leading to the hostages' release.

Accordingly, as agreed in our declaration of 22nd April, we decided to proceed without delay with the economic sanctions set out in the Security Council draft resolution of 10th January. The necessary orders will now be drawn up. There is agreement that the conditions and circumstances of application to be followed will be decided in common with our partners. It is accordingly our intention to act simultaneously with our partners on the basis of legal instruments coordinated to achieve parallel effect.

The House will have the opportunity to debate the orders after they have been laid. As was made clear at the time when the House was considering the Iran (Temporary Powers) Act 1980, the Government intend to follow a variation of the Affirmative Resolution procedure for orders made under this Act. This means that such orders will lapse unless approved by the House within 28 sitting days. A parallel procedure will be followed for orders made under the Import, Export and Customs (Defence) Act 1939. On the question of existing contracts, it was agreed that the contracts for the export of goods to Iran entered into after 4th November 1979 would be affected by the sanctions. Export of goods under such contract would be prohibited under the 1939 Act. However, service contracts will not be affected, except for new service contracts in support of industrial projects which will be banned as from the date of the entry into force of the appropriate Order-in-Council. We shall be co-ordinating closely with our Community partners to achieve parallel effects on these questions.

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