§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the progress to resolve the payment of outstanding debts from the Zambian high commission to Mrs. Gloria Proops; and what further action he proposes to take.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMrs. Gloria Proops is owed app-proximately £235 by a former employee of the Zambian high commission, now in Zambia. The employee has offered to pay Mrs. Proops but says he is unable to obtain the foreign currency necessary to do so. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been in contact with the Zambian high commission, which has sought approval from the Zambian authorities to pay the money owed to Mrs. Proops. The Zambians would then recover the equivalent amount in local currency from their former employee. Approval has not yet been given but the high commission is pursuing the matter, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will continue to press the Zambian authorities for a successful outcome to Mrs. Proops' case.