§ Mr. Alan Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the substance of the agreement between the Minister of State 349W and his Argentine counterpart reached at the negotiations in New York in March and to which his predecessor referred in his speech in the House of Lords on 3 April.
§ Mr. PymAt the New York talks the two sides considered in detail an Argentine proposal on procedures, including the setting up of a negotiating commission at ministerial level, for a more rapid tempo to negotiations on the dispute. We agreed to consider this proposal and to give a reply to the Argentine Government.
§ Mr. Alan Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the substance of the sealed orders held by the governor of the Falkland Islands to be opened in the event of an Argentine invasion.
§ Mr. PymThe governor was given instructions to make his dispositions as he thought fit to resist an invasion. As commander-in-chief he was given discretion to carry on resistance for as long as he considered to be in the interest of the Falkland Islanders. The Marines resisted and repulsed an attempt to seize Government House. There were casualties on the Argentine side. The order to cease fire was only given when the defenders were surrounded by overwhelming odds and further resistance would have caused needless loss of life to both the civilian and military population.
§ Mr. Alan Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what exchanges, including those at an informal level, have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and that of the Argentine since the invasion of the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. PymFollowing the severance of diplomatic relations, British interests in Argentina are represented by the Swiss embassy, which is in touch with the Argentine authorities as necessary on our behalf. In London the Brazilians are the protecting power for the Argentines. There have been no exchanges of substance between ourselves and the Argentines since the breaking of diplomatic relations, although we have been in touch about arrangements for respective embassy staff.
§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are in the Falkland Islands; and what steps are proposed to ensure their safety.
§ Mr. PymThe latest Falkland Islands census showed 1,723 British nationals and Commonwealth citizens resident in the islands. The safety of the islanders is of the highest priority to the British Government and all possible steps will he taken to assure their protection.
§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many residents of the Falkland Islands have the right of abode in the United Kingdom under the Immigration Act 1971.
§ Mr. PymOf the 1,800 residents of the Falkland Islands, about 1,400 have the right of abode in the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has given an assurance that no Falkland Islander, whether he has the right of abode or not, will have any difficulty over admission to this country.