Falkland Islands (Hansard, 19 December 1979)

§ Sir Nigel Fisher
asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will set out the number of recommendations of the Shackleton report on the development of the Falkland Islands that have been implemented, have been rejected, are in train and have not yet been decided, respectively.

§ Mr. Ridley
Of the list of 90 recommendations published in theOfficial Report for 5 July—[House of Lords, vol. 401, c. 634–44]—49 have been implemented, 14 have been rejected, 20 are in train and 7 have not been decided.

§ Sir Nigel Fisher
asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will set out the cost to United Kingdom public funds of the recommendations of the Shackleton report that have been implemented and the approximate cost of those that have not so been.

§ Mr. Ridley
The cost to United Kingdom public funds of those recommendations in the Shackleton report which have either been implemented or are in hand is £2.5 million. In addition, Her Majesty's Government are providing £25,000 per annum for staff implementing the recommendations. The estimated cost of recommendations rejected, including an extension of the runway by 950 m., is £11.25 million.

§ Sir Nigel Fisher
asked the Lord Privy Seal what further development plans he has for the Falkland Islands, in accordance with Lord Shackleton's report; and what timetable he has in mind to put them into effect.

§ Mr. Ridley
The seven recommendations of the Shackleton report on which no decision has so far been taken are largely in the hands of the Falkland Islands Government and are under discussion in the Islands.

§ Sir Nigel Fisher
asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps are being taken to diversify the economy of the Falkland Islands, with a view to encouraging development, in particular, by the private sector.

§ Mr. Ridley
The Government's aim is to give the Islands a viable economic future. We have made available £7 million of aid in recent years. Both we and the Falkland Islands Government welcome216W investment proposals from the private sector. We are seeking to identify inhibitions and difficulties in the way of such investment. The main problem is that any major development of offshore resources—for example, fishing and possible hydrocarbons—would be difficult without Argentine co-operation.