HC Deb 31 July 1974 vol 878 cc198-201W
30. Sir D. Walker-Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the Cyprus talks and indicate the extent to which it has been possible to receive and take account of indigenous Cypriot views and representations.

Mr. Hattersley

My right hon. Friend will be making a statement later today about the achievements of the talks in Geneva and about plans for future talks. I would ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman to await this statement.

31. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on steps being taken by the United Kingdom and other member States of the United Nations to reinforce the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus.

Mr. Hattersley

In response to an urgent request made by the United Nations Secretary-General to UNFICYP troop contributors on 22nd July, we immediately made available temporary reinforcements totalling over 600 men comprising two companies of Coldstream Guards and two armoured car squadrons with a regimental headquarters. They are already deployed under UNFICYP command. Most other contributors have agreed to reinforce their contingents.

Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on EEC-US co-operation over Cyprus.

Mr. Hattersley

There has been close and continuous consultation between the Nine and the United States through the French Presidency. We welcome this.

Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the concerted EEC action which has taken place over Cyprus.

Mr. Hattersley

Consultations between the nine member States of the European Communities have been taking place in the political co-operation machinery of the Nine since the beginning of the Cyprus crisis.

The Nine reached early agreement on a common line and issued their first communiqué in Paris on 16th July. This was followed by another communiquè on 22nd July, giving support to the British initiative for consultations in Geneva between the three guarantor States. Copies of both communiquès have been placed in the Library of the House. As the communiqués state, the Nine have made their views known to the Governments in Athens and Ankara.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the looting, damaging and destruction of British property by National Guardsmen or other combatants in Cyprus; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Hattersley

When the consul from Nicosia visited Kyrenia on 29th July, he received complaints of the ransacking of empty houses and saw some that were in disorder, though it was not possible to say whether anything had been stolen. He had an appointment to see the district officer on 30th July and will have raised with him the question of looting.

Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has been able to take to safeguard the property in Cyprus of British subjects, and arrange for compensation for damage where necessary.

Mr. Hattersley

I am concerned about the safety of British property in Cyprus, particularly in the Kyrenia area, from which many British residents were evacuated. The consul at Nicosia had an appointment to see the district officer in Kyrenia on 30th July and will have raised this question with him. As for compensation, I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 30th July to the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr. Normanton).

Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies killed, wounded and kept as prisoners by combatants in Cyprus.

Mr. Hattersley

Yes. It was with great regret that my right hon. Friend told the House on 22nd July of the death of a British soldier, Guardsman Lawson, and the stepson of a British soldier, Michael Farley. I now must add with equal regret that we have heard of the deaths of four British residents of Kyrenia: Mr. Douglas, Mrs. Leigh-Mathew, Mr. Sunderland and Lieutenant-Colonel Tew. I know that the House will join with me in expressing sympathy to their relations, and especially to Mr. Leigh-Mathew, who was wounded when his wife was killed. The only other serious wounding of which I am aware is Mr. Gavrielides, who was shot at Kyrenia but is now in an RAF hospital in Britain.

We are making inquiries into these incidents, and meanwhile I reserve the right to protest in the strongest terms to the Government responsible and to claim compensation.

The only official information that I have had about United Kingdom citizens being kept as prisoners by combatants in Cyprus is that the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has informed us that the National Guard are holding 15 British passport holders in Limassol as prisoners of war. The High Commissioner is trying to verify this report. It is probable that most of them are dual United Kingdom Cyprus nationals who are not entitled to British protection while in the Republic of Cyprus.