§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Lord Privy Seal how many refugees, guerrillas and others have now returned to Rhodesia since the ceasefire.
§ Mr. LuceAbout 30,000 refugees had returned by 18 February. Despite the fact that cross-border military activity should have ceased on 21 December under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, we believe that several thousand Patriotic Front military personnel entered after the dealine in contravention of the agreement.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements have been made for relaxing petrol rationing restrictions in Rhodesia for (a) candidates, (b) agents and (c) election officials.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements will be made for those Rhodesian public servants and military personnel who wish to leave in the period immediately after the election.
§ Mr. LuceIt is for the individuals concerned to make what arrangements they wish. But the Government made clear during the Lancaster House conference that the aim was to achieve a settlement under which as many people as possible would wish to remain in Rhodesia and contribute to its future.
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§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Lord Privy Seal what is the total number of (a) departmental heads, (b) senior civil servants, (c) commissioned officers and (d) police officers of inspector rank and above, in Rhodesia; and how many each category are black Africans.
§ Mr. LuceThe information is not readily available. I remind the hon. Member that it was agreed at Lancaster House that
In the day-to-day administration of the country, the Governor will work through the existing public services.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Lord Privy Seal what exchange controls apply on the export from Rhodesia of dollar notes and the transfer of capital; and whether he has any proposals for allowing transfers to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. LuceI refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford (Mr. Churchill) on 28 January. The remittance of all funds from Rhodesia is subject to Rhodesian exchange control regulations.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements have been made for guarding ballot boxes during and after the election in Rhodesia; and what access Rhodesian civil servants or the military will have to ballot papers after the count.
§ Mr. LuceI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the right hon. Member for Stepney and Poplar (Mr. Shore) on 13 February. The Government will be sending to Rhodesia a considerable number of additional British personnel whose job will be to assist the British district election supervisors by monitoring the conduct of the poll in the rural polling stations, both static and mobile. They will ensure that the voters are free to cast their votes within the privacy of the polling station without any undue influence being exerted on them. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 13 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mr. Chapman).—[Vol. 978, c.1530; c. 680.]
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Lord Privy Seal what is his estimate of the current numbers of (a) Rhodesian Regular 28W Army, (b) Rhodesian police, (c) Rhodesian Air Force, (d) Selous Scouts, (e) auxiliaries and (f) mercenaries in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.
§ Mr. LuceThe force levels of both the Rhodesian and Patriotic Front forces were disclosed in confidence to the Government during the Lancaster House conference. We do not intend to reveal the figures for either side now.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements are being made to protect the Governor in the event of the elected Prime Minister of Rhodesia withdrawing the protection provided by Rhodesian forces.
§ Mr. LuceDuring the pre-independence period, all the Rhodesian forces are under the Governor's authority and control.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the Rhodesian ceasefire guerrilla assembly points, giving with each one the nearest Rhodesian defence forces base and its distance from the assembly point.
§ Mr. LuceThe Patriotic Front forces are monitored from their assembly places, the dispositions of which are set out in the Lancaster House agreements. The Rhodesian forces are monitored from their company bases. Further information is not readily available.