§ 13. Mr. Winnickasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the latest consultations with the United States authorities on the position in El Salvador.
§ Mr. RidleyThere have been no consultations with the United States authorities since the visit to the United States by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. and noble Friend from 25 to 28 February. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the remarks made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the House on 2 March, and by my right hon. and noble Friend in another place on the same day.—[Vol. 1000, c. 19–27]
§ 15. Mr. Deakinsasked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will support proposals for international mediation in El Salvador.
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§ Mr. RidleyA political solution to the conflict in El Salvador is greatly to be preferred to the continuation of the present fighting and we would of course support any realistic proposals that seemed likely to bring this about.
§ 26. Mr. Newensasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the current state of relations between the United Kingdom and El Salvador.
§ Mr. RidleySince Her Majesty's embassy in San Salvador was closed in February 1980 diplomatic relations have been conducted through Her Majesty's ambassador in San Jose, who is accredited to El Salvador. There are no plans to change this arrangement. The Salvadorean Government maintain an embassy in London.
§ 37. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will undertake an initiative directed towards the restoration of peace and human rights in El Salvador.
§ Mr. RidleyWe would support any realistic effort to bring an end to the fighting in El Salvador. It is, however, likely that other countries—perhaps some of El Salvador's Latin American neighbours—are better placed than the United Kingdom to undertake an initiative in this matter.