Falkland Islands

HC Deb 09 June 1982 vol 25 cc138-9W

12. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest contacts with the United Nations over the Argentine dispute.

Mr. Pym

The Secretary-General of the United Nations reported to the Security Council on 2 June that the positions of Britain and Argentina did not offer the possibility of developing at that time a mutually acceptable ceasefire. He would nevertheless maintain close contact with the parties in the hope that his good offices might contribute in bringing the crisis to an end. We have made clear that we are willing to agree to a ceasefire only if it is linked to the immediate withdrawal of all Argentine forces within a fixed period. The draft resolution which the Security Council failed to adopt on 4 June was not acceptable to us because it failed to establish the explicit linkage between ceasefire and unconditional Argentine withdrawal which we required and did not set a deadline for the completion of withdrawal. We remain in touch with the Secretary-General.

19. Sir David Price

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was expended by Her Majesty's Government in the past 10 years on the improvement of travel communications with the Falkland Islands.

Mr. Onslow

British aid to the Falkland Islands in the transport field over the last 10 years has amounted to £6.75 million. Of this £5.9 million was for the new airport at Stanley. The remainder was for the construction of part of the new road from Stanley to Darwin, the purchase of three light aircraft and the building of a hanger.

20. Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest situation in the Falklands.

24. Mr. Jessel

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Falkland Islands dispute.

Mr. Pym

British forces are now poised to repossess Port Stanley. We have no wish to prolong military action. However, we could not agree to any ceasefire proposal which was not unambiguously linked to the immediate withdrawal of all Argentine forces. It is a matter for the greatest regret that Argentina still shows no sign of accepting the need for such a withdrawal.

28. Sir Patrick

Wall asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the future of the Falkland Islands.

Mr. Pym

Our immediate objective is the repossession of the islands and the restoration of British administration. Following that there will need to be a period for rehabilitation and reconstruction, after which we shall wish to consider with the Falkland Islanders questions affecting the future of the islands.

31. Sir Anthony Meyer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the support which he has received from the French Government over the Falklands Islands dispute.

Mr. Pym

Yes. The Government have greatly appreciated the strong and consistent support of the French Government over the Falkland Islands dispute.