Libya

HC Deb 07 May 1986 vol 97 cc177-9W

20. Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present state of relations with Libya.

28. Mr. Ron Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations with Libya.

45. Mr. Leigh

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Libya.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

We have been discussing with our partners and allies a concerted programme of action to combat the threat of Libyan-directed terrorism. Specific action has been taken to implement the decisions taken by the Foreign Ministers of the Twelve in Luxembourg on 21 April. Effective measures were also agreed at the Tokyo summit.

On the British community in Libya, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, West (Mr. Douglas).

23. Mr. Teddy

Taylor asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will outline the measures agreed by the European Economic Community to restrict the activities of Libyan nationals; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

I refer my hon. Friend to my statement to the House on 23 April, at column 299, about the measures agreed by Foreign Ministers of the Twelve on 21 April.

26. Mr. Beith

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on Britain's relations with other countries of British involvement in the recent United States raid on Libya.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

I have taken careful note of the reactions of other countries, which have demonstrated considerable understanding of why we supported the action taken by the United States against Libyan state-directed terrorism.

37. Mr. Clay

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have taken place with the United States Government concerning the situation in Libya.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

We continue to have full and frequent discussions with the United States Government about Libya. The most recent occasion for a high level exchange of views was during the Tokyo summit on 4 to 6 May.

40. Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by European Economic Community countries to the United Kingdom about its public support for the United States military action in Libya.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr. Bidwell).

56. Mr. Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which European Economic Community countries have publicly condemned, and which have publicly supported, the United States military attack on Libya.

65. Mr. James Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which European Economic Community countries have supported the United States military attack on Libya.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

Apart from the United Kingdom, which supported the United States action, the initial reaction of most EC countries was cautious, and in some cases critical. All our partners agreed on the urgent need for collective action to counter Libyan state directed terrorism: and as I told the House in my statement on 23 April we have now agreed on a package of measures for this purpose.

57. Mr. Cohen

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consult his European Economic Community colleagues before giving assent to further support for the use of United States air bases in the United Kingdom in mounting military attacks on Libya.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

The use of United States forces of bases in the United Kingdom is a matter for joint decision by Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government. We are consulting our European Community partners very closely about what more should be done to counter Libyan state-directed terrorism.

17. Mr. Ashdown

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from his European Economic Community colleagues concerning British involvement in the United States raid on Libya on 15 April.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr. Bidwell).

19. Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Arab states concerning British involvement in the United States raid on Libya on 15 April.

Mr. Renton

We have had some expressions of criticism, of varying degrees of formality, from certain Arab countries. However, as my right hon. and learned Friend said on 23 April, the Arab world has been more understanding than many people at first thought likely.