Rhodesia

HC Deb 22 February 1978 vol 944 cc714-5W

27. Mr. Blaker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement about Rhodesia.

38. Mr. Hordern

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Rhodesia.

48. Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the new situation in Rhodesia.

Dr. Owen

I would' refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison) earlier this afternoon.

29. Mr. Gow

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further consultations he has had with the leaders of the Patriotic Front since the Malta, Conference on Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Owen

Contact has been maintained at official level and, as is known, in view of the urgency of the need to negotiate a ceasefire, I offered in Malta to see the Patriotic Front in New York the week before last. I am ready at any time to try and bring about direct discussions between the parties to the armed conflict and, indeed, between all the parties to a settlement.

31. Mr. Grocott

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many executions have been carried out in Rhodesia since January 1977.

Mr. Rowlands

As my hon. Friend explained in a debate which was held on this subject on 28th July 1977, we are regrettably unable to say exactly how many such executions have taken place, since the regime no longer publishes any details about them. We know, however, that these continue to take place and have left the regime in no doubt of our abhorrence.

49. Sir Frederic Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his policy of achieving an internationally acceptable solution in Rhodesia, he will make representations to the Soviet Government to cease their efforts to undermine the recently announced Rhodesian settlement to establish majority rule.

Dr. Owen

The Soviet Government will already be aware from our public statements of the Government's attitude to the present settlement attempts in Salisbury. We shall continue to urge them to support a peaceful negotiated settlement which satisfies the Six principles.