Rhodesia

HC Deb 07 December 1977 vol 940 cc767-8W

21. Mr. Blaker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the latest position in relation to Rhodesia.

27. Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the situation in Rhodesia.

28. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about Rhodesia.

29. Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present situation with regard to Rhodesia.

42. Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation in Rhodesia.

Dr. Owen

I would refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) earlier today.

22. Mr. Rifkind

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the Government's attitude towards an internal settlement of the Rhodesian issue.

Dr. Owen

I do not know exactly what the expression "an internal settlement" means. If it means an exclusive settlement whereby nationalist leaders currently outside the country are not given a reasonable opportunity to participate in fair and free elections and there is no serious attempt to try and obtain a cease-fire or international support, then the Government do not support such a settlement. The Government stand by the proposals published in Cmnd. 6919.

26. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the inquiry by Mr. Bingham, QC, into the breach of oil sanctions against Rhodesia by certain companies.

30. Mr. Clemitson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the inquiry set up to investigate the alleged breaking of oil sanctions against Rhodesia.

Dr. Owen

Mr. Bingham has received a considerable body of written material and is in the process of interviewing witnesses. He has made considerable progress.

36. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of Lord Carver's visit, he will now modify the Anglo-American plan for Rhodesia.

Dr. Owen

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison) earlier today.