§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 318W Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation No. 558 on the general policy of the Council of Europe which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 16th May, 1969; and whether they have instructed their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.
§ Mr. Rhodesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation Number 558 on the general policy of the Council of Europe which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 16th May, 1969; and whether their permanent representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe was instructed to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.
§ Mr. MulleyA meeting of the Ministers' Deputies is taking place this week in Strasbourg, when this recommendation is being discussed; the proceedings of the Committee of Ministers Deputies are, of course, confidential.
§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to Recommendation No. 485 on the ratification of Protocols No. 2, 3 and 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1967, whether they will now ratify the Protocol No. 4.
§ Mr. Rhodesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to Recommendation Number 485 on the ratification of Protocols numbers two, three and four to the European Convention on Human Rights which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1967, whether Her Majesty's Government are now prepared to ratify the Protocol Number 4.
§ Mr. MulleyNot at present.
§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's 319W Government propose to take in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on consideration of Recommendation 470 concerning a draft Convention on European Co-operation between local authorities.
§ Mr. Rhodesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he has given his representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for the debate on Recommendation Number 470 concerning a draft convention on European co-operation between local authorities.
§ Mr. MulleyThe Committee of Ministers has already decided not to include this subject in its programme of intergovernmental work for the current year.
§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government have taken on Resolution (69)13 adopted on 19th April, 1969, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and relating to financial contributions by member states to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
§ Mr. FoleyOur ability to increase our annual contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which in the current financial year amounted to £10,000 and which was the fourth highest contribution made by member states, depends on the total amount of money available for expenditure overseas and would have to be considered with other competing claims. The United Kingdom Government have already given to the International Committee of the Red Cross, in the context of Nigerian Relief, a cash contribution amounting to £950,000. This is in addition to our own Governmental assistance towards the I.C.R.C. relief programme in Nigeria totalling £1.12 million either spent or allocated.
§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Resolution No. 412 on the situation of the Jewish communities in European non-member countries which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 16th May, 1969; and what 320W action the Government has taken or proposes to take on it.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsMinisters' Deputies at the Council of Europe are discussing this resolution at their meeting in Strasbourg this week. In December, 1968 the United Kingdom Representative in the United Nations Third Committee raised the question of the treatment of Jews in the Soviet Union and Poland in the context of the human rights to be accorded to all racial and religious minorities. Her Majesty's Government will continue to take a deep interest in this problem.
§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Resolution No. 413 on the suppression of traffic of arms and munitions of war into Nigeria which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 16th May, 1969; and what action the Government has taken or proposes to take on it.
§ Mr. FoleyWe sympathise with the objectives of the Council of Europe resolution in seeking to find a solution to the Nigerian problem and to increase humanitarian aid, but we must also bear in mind the O.A.U. resolution calling on all member states of the United Nations to refrain from any action likely to impede the peace, unity or the territorial integrity of Nigeria. The Council of Europe resolution is still under consideration by Ministers' Deputies and has not yet been put to member Governments. But, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made clear in the House on 13th March, in our view an arms embargo alone would not be a practicable step towards a cease fire; it could only be effective if it formed part of a ceasefire agreement. Careful control is already exercised over all arms sales from this country.—[Vol. 779. c. 1692.]