§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister what are Her Majesty's Government's estimates of the cost of construction of any new airport on the Falkland Islands using (a) civil contractors and (b) Royal Engineers; and if she will supply a breakdown of the reasons for the difference.
§ The Prime MinisterExperienced civil contractors will be invited to tender for the airfield improvements needed in the Falkland Islands; we will have no firm estimates of Falklands construction costs until those tenders are received and assessed. The Royal Engineers are not trained, equipped or organised for a major airfield construction task.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Prime Minister what is her policy towards the joint communiqué issued by the Governments of Venezuela and Panama on 19 January concerning her visit to the Falkland Islands.
§ The Prime MinisterI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the joint communiqué issued on 18 January at the conclusion of a three-day visit to Venezuela by the President of Panama. That communiqué covered a large number of subjects, and included a short reference to my visit to the Falkland Islands. All Governments are free to express their own views.