HL Deb 25 June 1991 vol 530 cc485-6

2.58 p.m.

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they expect that human rights will appear on the agenda of the next meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness)

My Lords, we shall encourage discussion of good government, including human rights, at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

Lord Hylton

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his reply. Will he accept that human rights should be just as important in the Commonwealth as they have been over the years in Europe under the Helsinki and CSCE agreements?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I go further and say that human rights are important the world over.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, can the noble Earl tell the House what practical steps the Government will take to curb human rights' abuses in the Commonwealth and whether the steps will be described in a policy presented at the conference in Harare in October?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, we are funding a residential course in human rights law at Essex University specifically for the small Commonwealth states. Last year we helped to fund a seminar in Banjul. In this financial year we are planning to spend a substantial sum, currently £28 million, bilaterally from the aid programme on positive measures to promote human rights and good government. I can go further: a moment ago my right honourable friend the Minister for Overseas Development announced that the target for next year, 1992–93, will be £50 million.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, the noble Earl quite rightly said that human rights are important the world over—I think that those were his words. Can he say whether we are continuing our help and our aid to the Kurdish people?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, unfortunately the Kurds are not in the Commonwealth.

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I warmly applaud what my noble friend said he is doing. Can he tell us how many takers there were for his human rights course in Banjul?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, alas, I cannot. However, I shall write to the noble Lord and put a copy of the letter in the Library.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, will the noble Earl, on behalf of the Government, agree that one human right is the right to live? Can he tell the House whether at the Harare conference any initiative will be taken by the British Government to bring succour to members of the Commonwealth like Malawi and many others who are at present on the verge of starvation?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the noble Lord knows full well the amount of aid that we are giving to Africa to help in the difficult situation there. However, as he is aware, the agenda for the Harare meeting has not yet been finalised. Much depends on discussions with the Commonwealth Secretary General.

Lord Hylton

My Lords, I am sure that the whole House will approve the measures announced by the noble Earl in respect of human rights education. However, will the Government do all that they can in Britain to improve respect for human rights, as an example to the Commonwealth?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, we shall continue our excellent standards.