HC Deb 28 March 1977 vol 929 cc23-4W
Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the staff of the British Embassy in La Paz includes a labour attaché and if he will make a statement of his policy on this issue.

Mr. Tomlinson

There is no labour attaché at the British Embassy in La Paz. It would be premature to make a statement on this subject whilst the rôle of labour attachés is being considered by the Central Policy Review Staff team as part of their review of our overseas representation.

Mr. Newens

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Bolivian demand for an exit to the sea has been raised at the Law of the Sea Conference; and if the representative of Her Majesty's Government has made any recent statement on this issue.

Mr. Luard

The Bolivian delegation to the conference has supported the general principle that landlocked states should have a right of transit to the sea. The British delegation has made no statement on the question of a Bolivian exit to the sea.