HC Deb 03 March 1982 vol 19 cc178-9W
4. Mr. Parris

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards El Salvador.

Mr. Luce

Her Majesty's Government's policy is to:

  1. (i) Condemn unconditionally the violence taking place in El Salvador, whomsoever is responsible.
  2. (ii) Encourage progress towards a political solution through democratic means. We regard the holding of elections as a step in the right direction.
  3. (iii) Provide humanitarian assistance to those suffering as a result of the conflict, within the limits of our resources.

9. Mr. George

asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government have decided to send observers to the election proposed in El Salvador on 28 March.

53. Mr. Newens

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any arrangements are being made by Her Majesty's Government for observers to be present during the elections in El Salvador.

Mr. Luce

As the House has been informed, subject to our being satisfied about security, the Government have decided to send observers to monitor the electoral process in El Salvador. As the House knows, they are to be Professor Derek Bowen and Sir John Galsworthy.

They will be asked to form their own conclusions about the elections in the light of their experience in El Salvador. Their report will be placed in the Library of the House and made public.

29. Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he has had any consultations with the United States Government concerning El Salvador; and if he will make a statement.

34. Mr. McNally

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he has had any recent discussions with the United States Administration on the situation in El Salvador.

45. Mr. Winnick

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether consultations have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the United States of America over developments in El Salvador.

Mr. Luce

We have regular consultations with the United States Government about global issues including El Salvador. During my visit to Washington this dialogue was maintained.

31. Mr. Garel-Jones

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the present position concerning human rights in El Salvador.

32. Mr. Jim Marshall

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement about human rights in El Salvador.

Mr. Luce

We are fully aware that there is a large-scale abuse of human rights in El Salvador. We note that in his final report to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, the special representative states, that violations of human rights are in the majority—though not solely—perpetrated by members of the State apparatus and violent groups of the extreme Right.

We repeat our call upon the Salvadorean Government to ensure that all its citizens, including those within the armed forces act within the law, and bring those responsible for such abuse to justice.

50. Mr. Alton

asked the Lord Privy Seal why the United Kingdom was the only member of the European Economic Community which refused to support the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on El Salvador last December.

Mr. Luce

The resolution was proposed when the interim report of the special representative appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Commission to investigate human rights abuses in El Salvador was presented to the United Nations General Assembly. Our delegate welcomed that report as an important and balanced document. We abstained on the resolution because it lacked balance. Suggested amendments put forward by our delegate to achieve a balanced resolution were rejected by the resolution's co-sponsors.

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