§ 16. Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the level of United Kingdom representation in central America.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe have embassies in Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras and a high commission in Belmopan which carry out the full range of diplomatic, commercial and other activities. The ambassador to Costa Rica is accredited also to Nicaragua and the ambassador to Honduras is accredited also to El Salvador. In Guatemala, with which we have no diplomatic relations, there is a British interests section in the Swiss embassy.
We are optimistic that, by redeploying resources, we shall be able to reopen resident missions in El Salvador and Nicaragua.
§ 23. Mr. Andrew MacKayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to visit central America.
§ Mr. WhitneyNo. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State visited Panama and Costa Rica from the 12 to 17 November last year, and was in Mexico earlier this month.
§ 26. Mr. Tom Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government have reached any conclusions on the recommendations of the Kissinger commission in relation to the formulation of a United Kingdom response to the problems of central America.
§ Mr. WhitneyPresident Reagan has transmitted to Congress proposed legislation which is described as embodying the consensus arrived at by the Kissinger commission. This proposal demonstrates the importance the United States Government attach to achieving peace, democracy and development in Central America. We support these aims.