§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Zambia in the light of the statement by President Kaunda that he has arrested 28 persons, some of whom are British subjects, and proposes to deny them consular access.
§ Mr. RowlandsThe President of Zambia announced at a press conference on 23rd October that 18 foreigners had been arrested following the Rhodesian incursions into Zambia. No information was given as to their nationality. We have, however, no reason to believe that British nationals were included and no representations have therefore been made.
§ Mr. Ian Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, before reaching his decision to supply arms to Zambia, full account was taken of the effect of this decision on public opinion in Southern Africa south of the Zambesi.
§ Mr. RowlandsIn taking our decision to respond to the request for help in improving Zambia's defence capacity, we naturally took all relevant factors into account.
§ Mr. Ian Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to him by the South African Government as a result of the decision to supply arms to Zambia.
§ Mr. RowlandsNone.
§ Mr. Ian Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account he took in deciding to supply arms to Zambia of the capacity of the Zambian armed forces to implement any guarantee given to him by President Kaunda that the arms to be supplied to him under the present agreement will be used solely by them in defence of Zambian territory.
§ Mr. RowlandsAs my right hon. Friend told the House on 2nd November, we are prepared to rest on the integrity of President Kaunda and the Zambian Government. The President has given assurances that the military equipment72W we are supplying will be used solely for the defence of Zambia and it will not be passed to any third party.
§ Mr. Ian Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he consulted the Heads of Commonwealth Governments before deciding to supply arms to Zambia.
§ Mr. RowlandsNo, but we are confident that Heads of Commonwealth Governments would agree with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth who has welcomed our positive response to an appeal for assistance from a fellow member.
§ Mr. Ian Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to replace, or to defend, any missiles supplied to Zambia under the recent arms agreement which may be damaged or destroyed by counter-insurgency action taken by the Rhodesian security forces.
§ Mr. RowlandsAs my right hon. Friend made clear in his statement to the House on 2nd November, the equipment we are supplying to Zambia is strictly for the use of the Zambian armed forces and police and solely for the defence of Zambia. The situation envisaged by the hon. Member is hypothetical.—[Vol. 957, c. 186–87.]