HC Deb 07 March 1979 vol 963 c721W
Mr. Maurice Macmillan

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of (a) the value of assets at present frozen in the United Kingdom belonging to Rhodesian citizens, or institutions, (b) the value of assets currently held in Rhodesia belonging to United Kingdom citizens not resident in Rhodesia and British institutions, and (c) the cost to Her Majesty's Government of paying out funds in cases where United Kingdom citizens not resident in Rhodesia suffer genuine hardship through having had then-assets frozen in Rhodesia for a prolonged period due to the operation of sanctions.

Mr. Rowlands

The value of Rhodesian assets blocked in the United Kingdom could well be in excess of £100 million: it would be disproportionately expensive to attempt to establish an exact figure. It is not possible to give an estimate for the value of all British assets blocked in Rhodesia, which are believed to be of greater value than the funds blocked in the United Kingdom. No figures are available for benefits paid to United Kingdom citizens outside Rhodesia suffering hardship because their funds are blocked in Rhodesia.