HC Deb 24 February 1978 vol 944 cc825-8W
Mr. Pattie

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton, Official Report, 7th February, column 520, of the naval officers who requested premature voluntary retirement in the periods January to June 1976 and 1977 and July to December 1976 and 1977, how many came from each branch of the Royal Navy.

Dr. Gilbert

The breakdown of the figures is as follows:

concern them. The governments of Australia and New Zealand have been consulted about such of the resolutions as concern them as Partner Governments in the British Phosphate Commissioners (BPC).

2. The British Government have already indicated their acceptance of the proposal in Resolution No. 1 that the constitutional future of Banaba should be determined by means of a referendum; and in particular the British Government have agreed:

  1. (a) to give effect to the result of the referendum in constitutional arrangements for the future of the territory;
  2. (b) to seek the assistance of the United Nations in arrangements for the referendum;
  3. (c) to meet certain costs in relation to the referendum.

3. Resolutions Nos. 10 and 11 which are consequential on Resolution No. 1, do not directly concern the British Government, who however note with appreciation the generous and co-operative nature of the undertakings offered by the parties one to another. An Order in Council has already been made enabling the Rabi Council to nominate a member of the Gilberts House of Assembly.

4. Resolution No. 2 seeks from the British Government a sum of money related to the phosphate royalties to be paid to the Rabi Council, in addition to the sums which the Rabi Council and the Gilbert Islands Government receive in the normal way from the BPC. At present rates the additional sum proposed would amount to something approaching A$9 million. The Partner Governments have already offered to make available to the Banabans a sum of A$10 million to provide for the future of the Banaban community after the end of phosphate royalties, and the British Government regard this payment as adequate to take care of the requirements of the Banaban community.

5. Resolution No. 3 seeks the agreement of the Governments of the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand to the provision of "funds for the rehabilitation of Banaba". The British Government observe that Ocean Island Cases Nos. 1 and 3, known as the replanting actions, are directly relevant to the matter of rehabilitation. The British Government also take note of the fact that, notwithstanding the decision of the Vice-Chancellor to award damages of some A$14,000, the BPC have renewed their earlier offer of A$1.25 million in final settlement of the replanting actions and that this offer has not so far been accepted by the Rabi Council. While no justification can be seen for the request for further funds, the British Government have nevertheless taken note of the recommendation in the Posnett Report that a full resources study of Banaba should be mounted in order to provide all concerned with a reliable and scientifically-based assessment of the island's resources for habitation and for economic development. The British Government are pepared to provide funds for such a study if this is agreed by the Government of the Gilbert Islands and by the Rabi Council, and would of course be ready to enter into discussion with the parties about any recommendations which may emerge from the study.

6. Resolution No. 4 asks the partner Governments "to set up the BPC reserve fund as a separate fund for distribution to the Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council". The BPC is a business which has a number of activities as well as handling phosphate from Christmas Island, Nauru and Banaba. Any accumulated reserves which may prove to be surplus of requirements when the BPC is eventually wound up will be a matter for agreement between the partner Governments at the time.

7. Resolution No. 5 calls for the setting up of a Management board for the Banaba phosphate industry "as agreed to in the Tarawa Agreement of 1976". The British Government have no objection to the implementation of this resolution by the BPC in consultation with the Gilbert Islands Government and the Rabi Council of Leaders, and have authorised the United Kingdom Commissioner accordingly.

8. Resolutions Nos. 6 and 7 do not directly concern the British Government, which are however pleased to take note of them.

9. Resolution No. 8 asks that Ocean Island be called "Banaba". The British Government accepts this and have asked the Naval Hydrographer, the Director of Military Survey, and the Director of Overseas Survey, whose departments are the principal government map-makers, to comply.

10. The British Government also take due note of Resolution No. 9 in which the two parties agreed "to be united in their submissions to Her Majesty's Government or any other government or organisation". The British Government will be glad to respect the spirit of this Resolution. Hence this communication is addressed jointly and concurrently to both parties.

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