§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the estimated 100,000 political prisoners held by the Government of South Vietnam, he will stop all aid to the Thieu Government.
§ Mr. EnnalsOur modest programme of aid to South Vietnam is designed to help the South Vietnamese people.
The cessation of our aid would be unlikely to lead to progress over the release of civilian prisoners held by each side in Vietnam. This can only come from negotiations between the Vietnamese parties themselves, as provided in the Vietnam Agreement of 1973.
§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the fact that the Paris Agreement on Vietnam recognises the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Vietnam (PRG) and the Saigon Government of General Thieu as equal parties, he will extend to the PRG similar diplomatic status to that already granted to General Thieu's Government.
§ Mr. EnnalsI have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said in the House on 1st May.—[Vol. 872, c. 1131.]