HC Deb 20 October 1982 vol 29 cc143-4W
11.Mr. Ioan Evans

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

Mr. Pym

Good progress has been made on reconstruction and rehabilitation work in the aftermath of the Argentine occupation. The Government have welcomed Lord Shackleton's updated economic survey; both we and the islanders are now studying his recommendations. My hon. Friend the Minister of State visited the Falklands from 2–10 October and was able to discuss all these matters with the Falkland islanders and the civil and military commissioners.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures exist to monitor the purchase of maps or charts of United Kingdom dependencies by representatives of foreign powers; and whether any intimation was received by Her Majesty's Government of the purchase by Argentine officials of maps of the Falkland Islands in 1981 and 1982.

Mr. Pym

Maps and charts of United Kingdom dependencies are on public sale and there are no specific procedures for monitoring their purchase. However, a run on any particular issue would come to the notice of Government Departments. No indications were received of a large scale Argentine purchase of maps of the Falkland Islands in 1981 or early 1982. Subsequent checks have confirmed that there was no such purchase.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date in February or March his Department received a letter from Dr. Carlos Ortiz de Rozas, ex-Ambassador of Argentina to the Court of St. James, relating to the Falkland Islands; and what were its contents.

Mr. Rifkind

The only letters received from Dr. Ortiz de Rozas during this period concerned routine matters of protocol.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had from Mr. Peck and others of the Falkland Islands Council to move the capital from Port Stanley to Port Louis or some other site.

Mr. Rifkind

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 18 October.—[Vol. 29, c. 43.]