§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate has been made of the cost of establishing a fish freezing plant in the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. OnslowNone, the need for a fish-freezing plant in the Falkland Islands has yet to be established.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 22 November, Official Report, c. 349, if the text of the 366W statement of Sir Rex Hunt, Civil Commissioner in the Falkland Islands, on 3 November is yet available; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
§ Mr. OnslowAs I told the hon. Member in my letter to him of 29 November, no formal record of Sir Rex Hunt's remarks exists.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 22 November, Official Report, c. 348–49, when he expects to receive views of the Falkland Islands Government on immigration.
§ Mr. OnslowThe inquiries to which the hon. Member refers revealed that the new housing programme should generate a small housing surplus which will be useful in accommodating new settlers. Immigration into the Falklands is the responsibility of the Falkland Islands Government. They are concerned to encourage new settlement in the Islands as soon as the practical problems of housing shortage and rehabilitation of services have been overcome. The Falkland Islands Government office to be established shortly in London will have as a priority the identification of potential settlers.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what precise terms, and by what means, the total exclusion zone around the Falkland Islands was notified to the Argentine Government.
§ Mr. OnslowThe announcement of the establishment of the total exclusion zone was conveyed to the Argentine Government at our request by the Swiss Government in their capacity as protecting power.
The terms of the announcement were as follows:
'From 1100 GMT on 30 April 1982, a Total Exclusion Zone will be established around the Falkland Islands. The outer limit of the Zone is the same as for the Maritime Exclusion Zone established on Monday 12 April 1982, namely a circle of 200 nautical miles radius from latitude 51 degrees 40 minutes south, 59 degrees 30 minutes west. From the time indicated, the Exclusion Zone will apply not only to Argentine warships and Argentine naval auxiliaries but also to any other ship, whether naval or merchant vessel, which is operating in support of the illegal occupation of the Falkland Islands by Argentine forces. The Exclusion Zone will also apply to any aircraft, whether military or civil which is operating in support of the illegal occupation. Any ship and any aircraft, whether military or civil which is found within this Zone without due authority from the Ministry of Defence in London will be regarded as operating in support of the illegal occupation and will therefore be regarded as hostile and will be liable to be attacked by the British force.Also from the time indicated, Port Stanley airport will be closed: and any aircraft on the ground in the Falkland Islands will be regarded as present in support of the illegal occupation and accordingly is liable to attack.These measures are without prejudice to the right of the United Kingdom to take whatever additional measures may be needed in exercise of its right of self-defence, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.'
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what controls he has over the introduction of alien species of plants and animals to the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. OnslowThe Falkland Islands Government control the importation of plants and animals under the Plant Disease Regulation Ordinance 1944 and the Live Stock Ordinance 1901. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.
367W
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons he wishes to establish a 200-mile fishing limit round the Falklands.
§ Mr. OnslowHer Majesty's Government have not yet expressed a wish to establish a 200-mile fisheries limit.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 22 November, Official Report, c. 348–49, what restriction presently exists on the immigration into the Falkland Islands of United Kingdom citizens.
§ Mr. OnslowImmigration into the Falkland Islands has been controlled by the Falkland Islands Government in accordance with the Falkland Islands Immigration Ordinance 1965. Immigration is at present constrained by practical considerations, in particular the shortage of accommodation in the Islands.