§ Mr. Proctorasked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply to the hon. Member for Basildon of 11 June 1982, when she expects to make a decision with regard to her paying an official visit to the Falkland Islands; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether she is now in a position to state if she will visit the Falkland Islands as soon as her present commitments allow.
§ The Prime MinisterI have no plans to make such a visit immediately.
§ Mr. Douglasasked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed to set up the inquiry into the recent events surrounding the Falkland Islands and dependencies under any existing legislation.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Prime Minister if she will hasten arrangements for foreign journalists to visit the Falkland Islands, to report on the damage done by the Argentine invaders and on the state of their troops, and to see the effect on those troops of the junta's delay in arranging their repatriation; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterI share my hon. Friend's concern that foreign journalists should be able to see conditions in the Falkland Islands as soon as possible. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence are making urgent arrangements to enable such visits to take place as soon as practical conditions permit.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the role of the International Red Cross in looking after the Argentine prisoners on the Falkland Islands, and on the role which Her Majesty's Government may legitimately assign to it.
§ The Prime MinisterUnder the Geneva convention the treatment of the Argentine prisoners of war is our responsibility. The Government have welcomed the humanitarian interest taken by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the prisoners of war, and particularly in the question of their repatriation, but we cannot assign to the ICRC any of our responsibilities for them.