§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will seek to establish from the commander of the British unit of the multinational force in Lebanon what is the current approximate number of armed Palestinians in Lebanon under the command o[the Palestine Liberation Organisation; whether these armed men represent any threat to the British contingent; and what steps are being taken to bring about their removal under the terms of the departure plan agreement of 20 August 1982;
(2) whether he will seek to establish from the commander of the British unit of the multinational force in Lebanon whether the Palestine Liberation Organisation complied fully with articles 18 and 19 of the departure plan relating to the transfer of heavy and spare weaponry and munitions and the location of mines and booby traps; and whether any threats exist from breach of these articles to the British forces;
(3) whether he will seek to establish from the commander of the British unit of the multinational force in Lebanon what is the current strength and order of battle of the elements of the Palestinian Liberation Army still deployed in Lebanon contrary to the provisions of article 22 of the departure plan; what steps are being taken to bring about their removal; and whether they present any threat to the British forces;
(4) whether he will seek to establish from the commander of the British unit of the multinational force in Lebanon whether Palestinian personnel fully complied with the departure plan in accordance with the schedule, in the light of the Lebanese note of 18 August 1982 which stated that the mandate of the multinational force would be withdrawn and that it should leave Lebanon forthwith if the agreement was not carried out.
§ Mr. LuceNo. The plan my hon. Friend refers to concerned the establishment of a temporary multinational force composed of units from France, Italy and the United States to assist in the departure of PLO leaders and fighters from Beirut, and to assure the safety of persons in the Beirut area. We were not a party to it. The British contribution to the multinational force was agreed with the Government of Lebanon in different circumstances at a later date. The terms were laid before Parliament on 1 March and published on 2 March—Treaty series No. 9 of 1983: Cmnd. 8823.
103WAs my hon. Friend knows, however, we have welcomed the agreement between Israel and Lebanon and hope that it will be followed by the complete withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon.