HC Deb 20 December 1965 vol 722 cc363-4W
Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose to the World Health Organisation the continuance of their anti-malarial and other aid to the Rhodesian people; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. George Thomson

The World Health Organisation themselves inquired of Her Majesty's Government whether their malarial eradication team should proceed to Rhodesia as planned. They have been told that it should.

The World Health Organisation, in which Rhodesia holds associate member- ship, was informed after the illegal declaration of independence that it should hold no communication with the illegal regime in Salisbury and that the authority of representatives of the illegal regime to the organisation had been withdrawn by Her Majesty's Government.

It is not, however, the Government's intention to deprive Rhodesia of its associate membership of the organisation since participation in its humanitarian and practical work is of value to the territory's inhabitants as a whole. The World Health Organisation has been informed that it may continue, where necessary, to deal on strictly technical or routine matters with Rhodesian officials lawfully appointed before the illegal declaration of independence and acting in the ordinary course of their duties.