HC Deb 28 November 1962 vol 668 cc67-8W
104. Commander Kerans

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will make a statement on the recent visit of H.M.S. "Loch Fada" to the Maldive Islands.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

Her Majesty's Government has an undertaking to help to bring about a reconciliation between the Maldivian Government and the inhabitants of Addu Atoll. Negotiations have been in progress locally for some weeks.

On 17th November, the Maldivian Government informed the British representative that they felt the state of Maldivian public opinion might make it unsafe for United Kingdom citizens to remain in the capital, Male. H.M.S. "Loch Fada" was thereupon made available for their evacuation, if necessary. She is still there; in the meantime, negotiations continue, and the ship has been able to carry out some harbour work for the Maldivian Government.