§ 77. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the cost to public funds of the resident commissioner in Rhodesia and his staff.
§ Mr. RowlandsApproximately £144,000.
§ Mr. Molloyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will place in the Library the detailed proposals for a negotiated settlement in Rhodesia to which he referred in the debate on the Address on 7 November 1978.
§ Dr. OwenI have today made arrangements for all the relevant documents to be placed in the Library of the House. The proposals set out in these documents offer three options for the transition to independence. As I told the House on 7 November 1978—c. 715.—the British and United States Governments have made it clear they prefer options A or C, involving elections after six months, followed by independence. Implementation of any of these options would depend on full agreement by all the parties and a viable ceasefire.
Any constitutional arrangement for the transition acceptable to the parties themselves could quickly be translated into legislative form by means of an Order in Council under the Southern Rhodesia Act 1965. Such an Order would be subject to an affirmative resolution of both Houses of Parliament.