§ Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Arab League has requested Her Majesty's Government's agreement to the inclusion of a representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in its delegation; and what has been Her Majesty's Government's response.
§ Mr. HurdMy right hon. Friend made it clear in answer to questions on 24 November that the Arab League had asked us belatedly to accept a PLO representative in the delegation to visit London. Our response was, and remains, to look for a basis on which the Arab league delegation's visit could take place consistent with the principles and policies of both sides.
§ Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a date has now been fixed for a visit to the United Kingdom by a delegation from the Arab League.
§ Mr. HurdNo. The Arab side postponed the visit arranged for 1–2 December. No new dates have yet been arranged. We hope that this important visit will still take place.
§ Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he imposed any conditions upon his receiving the Arab League delegation which is to visit the United Kingdom; and, if so, what are those conditions.
§ Mr. HurdWe wished to receive an Arab League delegation in London and still hope to do so. We sought in confidential exchanges to resolve a difficulty about the composition of the delegation in a way consistent with our well-established principles, in particular our attitude to contacts with the PLO. This has not so far proved possible, but we remain in touch with all those concerned.