§ Lord BARNBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
1156WAWhat is the value of total British-owned assets registered as having been expropriated in Mozambique without compensation having been paid; what steps they have taken to obtain payment of compensation; and to what extent steps were taken to secure payment for such assets, in whole or in part, before aid to Mozambique (now reported to have risen to £20 million) was released.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSThe value of expropriated British-owned assets, as registered by claimants with the British Embassy in Maputo, is approximately £6,042,000.
Shortly after Decree Law 5/76 was passed in February 1976, under which some United Kingdom assets were expropriated, Her Majesty's Ambassador in Maputo informed the Government of Mozambique of the right of the British to claim prompt, adequate and effective compensation. In February 1157WA 1977 the Mozambican Government was asked to "declare its intentions with regard to compensation for British property expropriated under the terms of the Decree Law". Our Embassy have raised the matter on a number of occasions.
Development assistance has been disbursed progressively since the agreement for the initial £5 million programme loan was signed in August 1976. However, we regard compensation for expropriated property as a separate issue from the provision of development assistance.