§ Mr. Douglas Hoggasked the Lord Privy Seal (1) what is the total value of all assets now in Zimbabwe and owned by persons resident in the United Kingdom which such persons wish to export to the United Kingdom but are prevented from doing so by the Government of Zimbabwe;
(2) what is his estimate of the value of moneys and property of persons now resident in the United Kingdom which such persons wish to export to the United Kingdom but are prevented from doing so by the Government of Zimbabwe;
(3) what recent steps have been taken to persuade the Government of Zimbabwe to permit the export of capital from Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom by persons formerly resident in Zimbabwe and now resident in the United Kingdom;
(4) how many persons now resident in the United Kingdom who have cash or other realisable assets in Zimbabwe which they wish to export to the United Kingdom are prevented from so doing by the Government of Zimbabwe.
§ Mr. LuceThe Zimbabwe Government inherited the problem of accumulated blocked funds from the illegal regime. They also inherited an acute shortage of foreign exchange and strict exchange controls. They have promised to remove the exchange controls as soon as financial circumstances permit.
A number of relaxations have already been made. All forms of current income and blocked capital up to a limit of 3,000 Zimbabwe dollars may now be remitted to United Kingdom residents. Elderly people and widows may remit enhanced amounts of capital and sympathetic consideration is given to individual hardship cases.
We have on a number of occasions reminded the Zimbabweans of the public concern in this country about blocked funds and the personal hardship this causes. I hope that we shall see further relaxations in the controls in due course.
We have no reliable figures on the value of blocked assets in Zimbabwe belonging to United Kingdom residents or the numbers of people involved, but are seeking to obtain such information.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the new evidence established by the Netherlands Parliament on the question of sanctions breaking by British oil companies and of the establishment of the Zimbabwe State, he will now hand over to the Zimbabwe Government any papers and documents in Her Majesty's Government's possession concerning the breaking of oil sanctions by British companies.
§ Mr. LuceNo. The Southern Rhodesia (Sanctions) (Amnesty) Order 1980 made provision for an amnesty in respect of all offences against measures imposing economic sanctions on Southern Rhodesia.