§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps through the United Nations to ask the commander of the United Nations peacemaking force in the Lebanon to make representations to the Israeli Government to secure the personal safety of Walid Jumblatt, leader of the Lebanese Socialist Progressive Party.
§ Mr. HurdNo. We are not aware that the personal safety of Mr. Jumblatt is particularly threatened at present.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether representations are being made, either through the machinery of the United Nations, or through the Middle East peace initiative of the European Community, to the Israeli Government about the application of the Geneva conventions to the treatment of Palestinian prisoners seized by the Israeli forces in the course of their operations in the Lebanon.
§ Mr. HurdThe Presidency, acting on behalf of the ten member States of the European Community, sought a number of assurances from the Israeli Government on 14 June. One of these was to ask the Israeli Government to confirm that they would apply the relevant Geneva conventions in Lebanon, especially as regards prisoners. So far no reply has been received.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, pursuant to Her Majesty's Government's announced policy of supporting the early withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Lebanon, he will make it his policy also to seek the simultaneous withdrawal of the Syrian Army and the creation of a fully demilitarised zone in South Lebanon policed by a joint force of Western Powers, acting to prevent armed incursions by the Palestine Liberation Organisation and to restore the authority of the Lebanese Government.
§ Mr. HurdSecurity Council resolution 509 which calls for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon does not refer to Syrian forces, which are in Lebanon by virtue of a mandate from the Arab League. The Government continue to support the restoration of the authority of the Lebanese Government throughout Lebanon and hope that this will be one of the results of Mr. Habib's mission. The nature and role of any international peacekeeping force in future arrangements in Southern Lebanon is not yet clear. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon remains in place.
§ Mr. Moyleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what duties are being currently undertaken by UNIFIL.
§ Mr. HurdIn accordance with instructions from the United Nations Secretary-General, UNIFIL troops continue to man their positions and are providing humanitarian assistance to the population of the area. Israeli forces have imposed some restrictions on UNIFIL's movements. UNIFIL's commander is in touch with all the parties to the present conflict with a view to working out at the earliest possible opportunity, practical arrangements for the implementation of Security Council resolutions 508 and 509.
§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make 76W immediate representations to the Israelis and the Lebanese that members of the British Press should be allowed free and complete access to South Lebanon.
§ Mr. HurdThe Belgian Presidency, on behalf of the Ten, has already sought an assurance from the Israeli Government that journalists will be allowed free access to Southern Lebanon. No reply on this point has yet been received. So far as we are aware, the Lebanese Government have not imposed restrictions on the movement of journalists.
§ Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Northampton, North on 16 June, Official Report, c. 304, what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to gather information as to the party responsible for the breach of the ceasefire in the Lebanon on 13 June.
§ Mr. HurdThe Government have no means of gathering definitive information. The first priority is for Israeli forces to withdraw from Lebanon in accordance with Security Council resolution 509.