§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Falklands unit has taken to provide temporary housing for troops and displaced civilians on the Falkland Islands pending the provision, when climatic conditions permit, of more permanent buildings.
§ Mr. OnslowMatters concerning the British troops are for the Ministry of Defence. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister described the measures that had been taken to provide them with temporary accommodation in her570W reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 22 July.—[Vol. 28, c. 235.] So far as I am at present aware, only 10 temporary housing units will be needed for the civilian population. Potential suppliers have been identified and a shortlist of these has been invited to submit firm tenders, with a view to shipment as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Trippierasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government intend to pay compensation to Falkland Islanders for their losses during the recent Argentine occupation of the islands.
§ Mr. OnslowYes. As the Prime Minister said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton (Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop) on 15 June, the Government intend to be generous in paying compensation to civilians for loss of life, injury, and damage to property in the Falkland Islands, whether as a result of British or Argentine actions, during the recent conflict. The civil commissioner has been collecting damage reports since his return so that we shall be in a position to move quickly. Authority for these payments will be sought from Parliament by means of a Supplementary Estimate. Pending parliamentary approval, suitable repayable advances will be made from the Contingencies Fund.