HL Deb 23 May 1980 vol 409 cc1097-8WA
Lord MORRIS

asked Her Majesty's Government:

With reference to the reply given to Lord Amory's question on "Recognition of Governments: Policy and Practice" on 28th April 1980 (cols. 1121–2), how in future, for the purposes of legal proceedings, it may be ascertained whether, on a particular date, Her Majesty's Government regarded a new regime as the Government of the state concerned.

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH

AFFAIRS (Lord Carrington)

In future cases where a new regime comes to power unconstitutionally our attitude on the question whether it qualifies to be treated as a Government will be left to be inferred from the nature of the dealings, if any, which we may have with it, and in particular on whether we are dealing with it on a normal Government to Government basis.