§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British women were known to be living within a 25-mile radius of the British Embassy in Libya at the time of the recent coup; and how many were contacted by Embassy officials during the 24-hour period following the announcement of King Idris' deposition.
§ Mr. LuardIt is estimated that about 1,600 British women were within 25 miles of our Embassy at Tripoli and about 300 within 25 miles of Benghazi.
During the first 24 hours after the coup members of the British Embassy in Tripoli and Benghazi passed messages to British residents by all means available. Information was also given through broadcasts by the B.B.C. But during the first 24 hours of the coup d'état there was a total curfew. In Benghazi telephones in the centre were cut off almost immediately and in Tripoli within 12 hours. There is no means of knowing how many women were reached.
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§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the total damage done to British-owned property of all kinds during the recent Libyan coup; and what steps he is taking to recover compensation.
§ Mr. LuardApart from that for damage to the Embassy, we have not received or made any claims for damage done to British-owned property since the recent coup in Libya.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number of persons resident at the British Embassy in Libya at the time of the recent coup which overthrew King Idris.
§ Mr. LuardI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question from the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck) on 5th December.—[Vol. 792, c. 387.]
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the maximum number of persons who can, in cases of emergency, be accommodated for a period of two or three days in the British Embassy in Libya, for the purpose, if necessary, of protecting their persons and lives.
§ Mr. LuardThe maximum number of persons who could be accommodated in the British Embassy buildings in Libya for two or three days would depend on various factors such as weather, food and water supplies, cooking facilities, sanitation and other emergency demands. Given favourable conditions and advance warning several hundred persons could be temporarily accommodated in Tripoli, but only about 50 at Benghazi. Whether advice to seek sanctuary were given by the Embassy in any emergency would depend upon circumstances at the time, and particularly upon an assessment of the security of movement to the Embassy and of the premises themselves.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on the recent invasion of the British Embassy in Libya, giving details of the number of soldiers who invaded the Embassy grounds, the amount of the 444W damage done, the estimate of cost of making it good, and the number of Embassy staff who suffered injury or loss of personal property;
(2) how many security guards were on duty, and what security precautions were in operation, at the British Embassy in Libya when it was recently attacked;
(3) what compensation he has demanded for the damage done to the British Embassy in Libya.
§ Mr. LuardI would refer the hon. Member to my written reply to the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck) on 8th December. In these incidents which involved intrusion by armed soldiers, no damage was done, and no Embassy staff were injured or suffered loss of personal property.
On 2nd November, the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, the British Embassy in Tripoli was assailed by a large group of civilian demonstrators. The Embassy Security Officer was on duty at the time, as were also the Ambassador and several other members of his staff. None of the attackers succeeded in entering the building. Three cars belonging to Embassy staff were written off and two were damaged: damage was also done to windows, air-conditioners, shutters and doors: Her Majesty's Ambassador made an energetic protest to the Ministry of Unity and Foreign Affairs, who were given a list of the damage done. They have appointed a Committee of Assessors to inspect this damage. Our own estimate of its amount is approximately £9,000. We have told the Libyan Government that we shall press the claim for compensation.—[Vol. 793, c. 6.]
§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the British girls who expressed anxiety about their safety to consular officials during the coup in Libya last September were not given accommodation in British Embassy property.
§ Mr. LuardExperience has shown that Embassy property is usually the first object of hostile attention in an unsettled situation and it is often safer for people to remain in their own homes. As I informed my hon. Friend on 8th December, a number of British subjects were 445W given temporary accommodation in the private residences of Embassy staff.
§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice with regard to claiming compensation he has given to British subjects who were attacked, or whose property was damaged, during the coup in Libya last September.
§ Mr. LuardNone; no British subjects who were attacked have so far sought advice with regard to claiming compensation. So far as I am aware no damage was done to British property at the time of the coup.