§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government will review the granting of financial aid to Zimbabwe while the Zimbabwean Member of Parliament Mr. Wally Stuttaford continues to be held in detention without trial and Mr. Denis Walker cannot return to Zimbabwe for fear of being arrested.
§ Mr. OnslowNo. We have raised with the Zimbabwean Government the general question of people being detained for prolonged periods without trial and they are well aware of our concern. But as my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister explained on 2 March, as Mr. Stuttaford is a Zimbabwean national we have no authority to intervene on his behalf. The same is true of Mr. Denis Walker, who is also a Zimbabwean national.
The question of our financial aid is a separate issue. The purpose of our aid is to help develop Zimbabwe's economy and thereby contribute to stability in that country.