§ 29. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet received from the Government of Libya an apology, an explanation of and compensation for their interference with a British Overseas Airways Corporation aircraft; and whether the two passengers taken from their aircraft have been returned.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeWe have not yet received an apology or a satisfactory explanation from the Libyan authorities. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State summoned the Libyan Ambassador again on 29th July and made clear our displeasure at the failure to provide an explanation for an action which his own202W Government on a similar occasion last year had described as an act of piracy which constituted a flagrant violation of the bases of international law.
I understand that the International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations has accepted an offer by the Libyan Government to receive a delegation. I believe this could be very helpful.
In the meantime, the United Kingdom Permanent Representative has written to U Thant explaining Her Majesty's Government's view of the Libyan action and reserving our right to pursue the matter in the appropriate organ of the United Nations.
As the House will be aware, the two Sudanese passengers taken from the aircraft at Benghazi were handed over to the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum, tried and executed.
§ 42. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will undertake not to supply arms of any kind to Libya.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAs I have made clear, it is Her Majesty's Government's desire to have good relations with Libya. The recent action of the Libyan Government has caused us to review all aspects of these relations, including arms sales, but I am not prepared to give the sweeping undertaking for which the hon. Member asks.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations have now been made to Libya, and what other action has been taken, in the case of the British Overseas Airways Corporation VC 10 aircraft forced to land and to surrender two of her passengers on political grounds.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeI have already made clear in answer earlier today to my right hon. Friend, the Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) the action which we have taken in the United Nations and the further representations made to the Libyan Ambassador here.
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§ 39. Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial aid and technical assistance is being given to Libya in the financial year 1971–72.
§ Mr. WoodWe are providing no financial aid, and about £4,000 in technical assistance. This covers the fees and maintenance of two Libyan students in surveying, who started their courses in February, 1970 and will complete them in March, 1973, and a contribution towards the cost of 12 British Council English language lecturers at the Universities of Tripoli and Benghazi.