§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will clarify the present position on Rhodesia.
§ Mr. RowlandsThe Rhodesia Conference Chairman, Mr. Ivor Richard, has completed his first round of consultations in Africa with the parties concerned. These consultations have shown that there are still wide gaps between their respective positions, and it became necessary to defer the reconvening of the conference in Geneva which was originally planned for 17th January. Mr. Richard is now, however, embarking on a second round of consultations and a decision about the reconvening of the conference will be made in the light of these.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what remuneration is being received by Mr. Ivor Richard as Chairman of the Rhodesian Geneva Conference.
§ Mr. TomlinsonWhilst Chairman of the Rhodesia Conference, Mr. Richard continues to receive the salary of £18,675 a year paid to him as United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United220W Nations, New York, together with the allowances pertaining to that post. In addition, whilst at Geneva or travelling he is paid the appropriate daily rate of subsistence.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit Rhodesia.
§ Mr. RowlandsIn his statement to the House on 14th December my right hon. Friend said that if at the end of Mr. Richard's consultations it proved appropriate or desirable he would himself go either to Africa or to the resumed conference at Geneva. My right hon. Friend stands by that statement, but at present he has no plans to visit Rhodesia.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to public funds of Mr. Robert Mugabe's attendance at the Geneva Rhodesian Conference.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe sum of £43,401 has been expended in connection with the attendance of Mr. Mugabe and his delegation at the Rhodesia Conference.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the cost to public funds of the Rhodesia Geneva Conference to the present date.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Mr. Fairbairn) on 18th January 1977.—[Vol. 924, c. 101.]