§ 3.20 p.m.
§ Lord Rea asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether, following the cease-fire agreement in Nicaragua, they will view favourably requests for assistance in repairing the human and economic damage caused by the "Contra" war.
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, the European Community already provides substantial aid to Central America, including Nicaragua. The United Kingdom's share is about 20 per cent. The recent San Jose Conference in Hamburg agreed to additional measures to assist the countries of the region, several of which have suffered severely from internal conflict.
§ Lord ReaMy Lords, I thank the Minister for his Answer, which was reasonably helpful, and I should like to ask him a supplementary question. There are severe drought conditions; in fact, there is a situation of impending famine in parts of Nicaragua due to the combined effects of drought and the disruption of agriculture because of the war. Can he say whether the Government intend to reply to Nicaragua's recent request to them for bilateral aid of an emergency nature to the tune of less than £1 million to help fund the supply of oil and beans?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, we do not have a bilateral aid programme for Nicaragua but the Government have contributed to joint funded projects carried out by the voluntary agencies. Those are the kinds of things to which the noble Lord alludes. Those projects are mainly humanitarian and are designed to help the poorest people in Nicaragua.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, does the Minister agree that during the past five years British aid to and trade with Nicaragua have declined substantially? In view of the signing of the cease-fire agreement, will Her Majesty's Government now be prepared to review the position?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, the answer to that question is that we have not progressed quite so far as the noble Lord indicates. We hope that it will be possible to make further progress and move forward from the recent meeting which was held on 28th April. There is to be another meeting on 12th May. We are still in the position of wishing to see a peaceful negotiated solution to the region's problems. I hope that it will be a successful negotiation and that we shall make progress after that.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, will the Minister be good enough to tell the House the objective of the meeting on the 12th May?
§ Lord GlenarthurYes, my Lords; it is to take forward the meeting which took place on 28th April, which comprised talks in Managua about a definitive cease-fire. The parties met on 28th April but the Contra leaders found the Sandinista proposals unacceptable because they required them to lay down their arms without prior guarantees that the Sandinistas would implement further democratisation. There is to be a further meeting on 12th May, so the process is still very much alive.
§ Lord KennetMy Lords, now that the war which has been forced on Nicaragua by the United States Administration for the past six years is drawing to a close, will the Government take such visible steps to help that country rebuild its economy as would befit the traditions of this country?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, I think that we have yet to reach the ideal position which the noble Lord wishes to see. We have consistently advocated a peaceful negotiated solution to the region's problems and we warmly welcome both the Central American peace agreement and the 60-day cease-fire agreement which was signed on 23rd March. As I have said, negotiations are still under way. Let us see how they develop.
§ Lord Hatch of LusbyMy Lords, does the Minister's reply to my noble friend imply that aid from this country will depend on whether the British Government approve of the peace negotiations in Managua? If that is wrong, will he make it quite clear that that is not a condition for providing aid to Nicaragua? Can he say whether it is the case that the British Government is the only EC government that has so far refused to give bilateral aid to fund the emergency appeal that has been made in the present famine conditions?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, I am not laying down any conditions whatever. I stated that at present there is no bilateral aid programme for Nicaragua. However, as I said, the European Community's aid commitments to Central America are substantial. They doubled from 41 million European currency units in 1984 to 82 million European currency units in 1987, of which the United Kingdom contributes about 20 per cent. At the San José conference it was agreed to demonstrate the European Community's practical support for the peace process; namely, through additional food aid, help with refugees and assistance for the proposed Central American Parliament.
§ Lord ReaMy Lords, is it necessary for there to be a pre-existing bilateral agreement before aid is given in response to an emergency request for aid because of severe famine conditions?
§ Lord GlenarthurMy Lords, the noble Lord must not confuse the humanitarian aid side with the bilateral aid side. As I have said, we already contribute to joint funded projects carried out by the voluntary agencies. No doubt we shall continue to do so.