§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Lord Privy Seal what information he has received from United Nations sources about civilian casualties in Southern Lebanon resulting from the activities of Israeli forces and the so-called Fascist militia.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will now propose in the Security Council substantial strengthening of the United Nations peace keeping force in South Lebanon.
§ Mr. HurdIt is for the Secretary-General of the United Nations to make proposals as to the level of forces deployed under UNIFIL's command. The UNIFIL mandate was, with our support, renewed for a further six months on 17 December.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Lord Privy Seal how many members of the United Nations peace keeping force in the Lebanon were killed or injured during the three months ended 31 December 1980.
§ Mr. HurdThe United Nations interim force in Lebanon sustained 21 casualties in hostilities, none of them fatal, in the period 1 October to 31 December 1980. Four members of the force lost their lives as a result of accidents.
549W
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will propose in the United Nations Security Council action to compel the withdrawal of Israeli forces illegally occupying Lebanese territory.
§ Mr. HurdWe do not believe such action would be either practical or desirable. Nevertheless, we are not satisfied with the present situation, and remain in touch with the Lebanese Government, with our European Community partners and with other interested Governments with a view to working for an improvement. Her Majesty's Government have consistently urged both in the Security Council and elsewhere the effective implementation of Security Council Resolution 425 and subsequent resolutions.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Lord Privy Seal what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from the Secretary General of the United Nations about the supply of Western arms to the militia in South Lebanon which is harassing the United Nations peace keeping, force.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Lord Privy Seal what proportion of Southern Lebanon is under the effective supervision of the United Nations peace keeping force in accordance with the mandate given to it by the Security Council.
§ Mr. HurdThe United Nations interim force in Lebanon is deployed over approximatley 240 square miles in South Lebanon, that is, about half of the area between the Litani river and the border between Lebanon and Israel.