§ 36. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the current situation in Nigeria as it affects British interests.
§ Mr. M. StewartThere are substantial British interests outside the area of conflict in Nigeria which have not been directly affected by the current situation. In the east and mid-west the war has hindered British trading and other activities. Oil production began to recover last year, but military operations have delayed the expansion of production and have prevented new equipment from being put to full use.
§ 53. Mr. Hordernasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to arrange a conference with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and France, with a view to suspending the supply of arms to Nigeria.
§ Mr. M. StewartI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun).
§ Mr. Barnesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the value of British Government relief to Nigeria and Biafra, which has been transferred from the International Committee of the Red Cross to joint church aid since the cessation of International Committee of the Red Cross flights in June.
§ Mr. M. StewartBritish Government aid spent or offered for relief in 1969–70 comprises £250,000 for bilateral aid and 177W £600,000 for the purchase of food and associated costs for the Federal areas, together with a cash grant of £250,000 to the International Red Cross for its relief work on both sides. It is not possible to say how much of the supplies transferred by the I.C.R.C. to Joint Church Aid is attributable to the British Government's grant since the money has been given without any restrictive stipulations on its use.
§ 47. Mr.Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will now suspend the export of arms and military equipment to Nigeria.
§ Mr. M. StewartNo.
§ 41. Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations he intends to make to Spain concerning the blockade of Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. George ThomsonThe Spanish Government are already aware from representations we have made that we view their restrictions on Gibraltar as constituting the main obstacle to an improvement in Anglo/Spanish relations.
§ 49. Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protest has been made to the Spanish Government over the recent issue of Spanish stamps which show Gibraltar as part of Spain.
§ Mr. George ThomsonNone. There are no legal grounds for objecting to the stamps.