The Gulf: UN Action (Hansard, 10 October 1990)

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness)
My Lords, the United Nations has responded with unprecedented solidarity and vigour to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, agreeing nine Security Council resolutions designed to achieve Iraq's immediate and unconditional withdrawal.
We are now considering with other members of the Security Council what further measures the UN might take to ensure Iraq's compliance with the will of the international community.

§ Lord Dean of Beswick
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that Answer. Have any further measures been considered to try to ameliorate the appalling suffering among the tens of thousands of mainly women and children in the refugee camps in the countries that adjoin Iraq? Perhaps I may press the Minister. Are any further measures under consideration to try to relieve the suffering of those unfortunate people?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, the UN Secretary General has appointed Sadruddin Aga Khan as international relief co-ordinator. Government Ministers have met Sadruddin to discuss ways forward. The House might be interested to know that the UK has contributed over £10 million in humanitarian assistance, including £0.5 million to the International Committee for the Red Cross, £2 million to the International Organisation for Migration, which has done an excellent job, and £7.2 million towards the EC's emergency aid programme.
The noble Lord will be aware that the best thing we can do, and therefore the priority, must be to repatriate the foreign workers as soon as possible.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, I am very much obliged to the noble Earl for that information. Of course we fully support all the actions which the Government are taking in this particular area.
Is the noble Earl aware that it was reported on a radio programme just before lunch that a military action had been commenced on the borders of Kuwait by the United Nations forces, but that the noble Earl's department had denied the report? Is he able to give the House any further information on any other developments?
Furthermore, can he say how effective is the imposition of the United Nations sanctions by both sea and air at the present time?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, in response to the noble Lord's first question I am unable to give any further information at the present time. However, perhaps I may assure your Lordships that we shall wish to keep the House informed if there are any new significant developments.
With regard to sanctions, the Sanctions Committee is hard at work controlling sanctions both from air and sea. We wish everybody in the international community to play their part to make sure that none of the items that is subject to sanctions proceeds to Iraq.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for what he said. May we all assume that if there is a further development a Statement will be made in this House immediately?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I would obviously wish to consult with the Chief Whip, and the usual channels would wish to be involved. However, perhaps I may reassure the noble Lord and the House how seriously the Government take the issue of informing Parliament.

§ Lord Campbell of Alloway
My Lords, has my noble friend any further information about action proposed at the United Nations on the subject of the hostages?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I presume that my noble friend is talking about the hostages held by Iraq.

§ Lord Campbell of Alloway
My Lords, yes.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, they are being held in flagrance of international law. We are trying to exert every pressure to make sure that they are released as soon as possible.

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, perhaps I may declare a slight interest. I have recently become the chair of the Middle East Committee of the Refugee Council in succession to my late, dear friend Lord McNair. Is the noble Earl aware that the refugee problem is not confined merely to Jordan? It has an enormous effect on the economies of recipient countries such as Egypt and Bangladesh, not only in terms of the reabsorption of the refugees but also through loss of remittances which will arise from their having lost their jobs in Iraq and Kuwait.
Is the noble Earl aware that there are still about 1.6 million Egyptians in Iraq who are trying to get home?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his question. I wish him well in his new job. Yes, we are well aware of the number of nationals involved from various countries. A number of countries have already applied to the United Nations under Article 50 of the UN Charter as a result of some of the problems which they face.

§ Lord Jenkins of Putney
My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that there is always the danger that military action may lead to a full-scale war? That is why such action always has to be considered with the utmost care.
Perhaps I may reiterate the point made by my noble friend the Leader of the Labour Party about the anxiety, which I am sure is felt throughout the House, that we should be kept fully informed as soon as possible.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I note the noble Lord's question. I believe that I have answered it.

§ Lord Dormand of Easington
My Lords, have the Government decided whether there should be specific United Nations authorisation of military action before it is taken by this country?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, the situation with regard to that was firmly set out by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister in another place. Throughout we have acted in accordance with international law and we shall continue to do so.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, I fully endorse what the Minister said at the beginning of his Answer regarding the action of the United Nations, and we all applaud that. Do Her Majesty's Government consider that there are any circumstances, other than for the defence of this country, in which British troops could be deployed without the full sanction of the United Nations?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I have answered that question, which was the same as that asked by the noble Lord, Lord Dormand of Easington.

§ Lord Richard
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the greatest threat to the solidarity of those countries now supporting United Nations' action in the Middle East is yesterday's events in Jerusalem? Can the Minister indicate the way in which the Government view those events and what action they will take in the United Nations to make sure that they do not disrupt the alliance that has been successfully created?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I am sure that the House was as shocked as were the Government by the extent of yesterday's violence. The noble Lord is right in saying that the problem needs to be resolved. However, it is absolutely clear that the first problem to be resolved must be to get the Iraqis out of Kuwait. We must obtain the unconditional withdrawal of the Iraq troops, the restoration of the legitimate Kuwaiti Government and free all the hostages.

§ The Earl of Lauderdale
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that a threat to a small country is a threat to us all? Referring to the question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Hatch, that is why we are there.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, my noble friend is right. The aggression must be stopped otherwise every country in the world will be under threat. We were asked to help.

§ Lord Mellish
My Lords, is the Minister aware that some Members on this side of the House believe that it would be quite mad to say to the United Nations, "Please, sir, may we attack Iraq?"? I have never heard anything so daft.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, the noble Lord's point is well made.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, with respect, the Minister did not answer my question when answering the noble Lord, Lord Dormand. In his answer to the noble Lord the Minister repeated what had been said in another place regarding the authority which the United Nations is alleged to have given to the use of British forces. I asked the question: do Her Majesty's Government consider that there are any circumstances, other than the defence of this country, in which British forces can be deployed without the sanction and full authority of the United Nations?

Earl of Caithness
My Lords, the noble Lord will know the international law and the resolutions that have been agreed by the United Nations Security Council. We shall act within international law.