HC Deb 20 April 1982 vol 22 cc80-1W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, as a means of resolving the dispute between the United Kingdom and the Argentine Government, he will request the United Nations to hold a referendum of the Falkland Islanders with questions proposed by Her Majesty's Government, the Argentine Government and the islanders; for the United Nations to arrange for the referendum and its results and to take action upon such results.

Mr. Pym

It is too soon to consider in detail possible means of consulting the islanders' views on a long-term solution. The first requirement is the withdrawal of Argentine Forces.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will take all and every action necessary, including if need be an approach to the Government of the Argentine, or the United Nations, to enable a citizen of the Falkland Islands to emigrate if he should express such a desire.

Mr. Pym

The Government's immediate objective is to secure the withdrawal of Argentine Forces in order to enable the islanders to resume their former way of life and their freedom to do as they wish. We have no evidence of any islanders now wishing to emigrate being prevented from doing so by the occupying forces, but would of course do all we could to help, were such clear wishes expressed.

Mr. George Gardiner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the measures taken by individual member States of the European Community prior to the decision by the Council of Ministers in support of the United Kingdom in the dispute with the Argentine Government over the Falkland Islands.

Mr. Pym

On 2 April, the day of the invasion, the Ten Foreign Ministers of the European Community countries issued a joint statement condemning the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands and calling for the withdrawal of Argentine Forces. In the course of the following week, all the Community Governments supplying arms to Argentina took decisions to place complete embargoes on all such arms sales. This was announced in a joint statement by the Ten Foreign Ministers on 10 April, together with their decision that the Community should impose a ban on all imports from Argentina. The statement also expressed strong support for United Nations Security Council resolution No. 502. A number of Community partners had by that time also ceased issuing new official export credit guarantees for exports to Argentina, and most others have done so since.