ANGOLA

HC Deb 31 July 1961 vol 645 cc111-2W

69. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will arrange for the Consul-General in Luanda to visit Leopoldville in order to meet leaders of the Union of Angolan Peoples to inform himself on all aspects of the present disturbances in Angola in preparing his reports to Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Heath

No.

70. Mr. Woodhouse

asked the Lord Privy Seal when he expects to receive the report of the United Nations Sub-Committee on Angola.

Mr. Heath

I understand that the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Angola has just submitted a further interim progress report to the President of the Security Council. As soon as I have received this report I will place a copy in the Library.

82. Mr. Healey

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will now make available the information sent to him by the British Consul-General in Luanda on the situation in Angola.

Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will now make available the information he has received as a result of the Consul-General's inquiries concerning the situation in Angola.

Mr. Heath

I would refer the hon. Gentlemen to my remarks about Her Majesty's Consul-General's report in the debate this afternoon.

87. Mr. Driberg

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will instruct the military and air attachés from the British Embassy in Lisbon to include in their report from Angola as full an account as possible of the nature of the arms in use or held in reserve by the Portuguese forces there.

Mr. Heath

The purpose of Her Majesty's Consul-General's visits was to gain as much information as possible, commensurate with the requirements of military security, about the situation in Northern Angola and report back.

88. Mr. Driberg

asked the Lord Privy Seal what attempts were made by the Consul-General in Luanda, between 15th March and the end of June, to visit the areas of disturbance in Northern Angola; and what attitude was taken by the Portuguese authorities towards these attempts.

Mr. Heath

None. There were obvious difficulties about visiting an area where fighting was going on, particularly in the early stages of the revolt.