§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Lord Privy Seal what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the proposal to create a zone of peace in the Indian Ocean; whether the United Kingdom will take part in the work of the United Nations preparatory groups; and who will represent the United Kingdom in this work.
§ Mr. HurdWe sympathise with the desire of Indian Ocean States to further 171W the peace and stability of the area. The proposed zone should be clearly defined and should safeguard freedom of navigation and other international rights. Although not a member of the UN ad hoc committee, the United Kingdom was represented at the inaugural session of the current meeting of the Indian Ocean States by our deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.