§ Ms. Ruddockasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's response to the outcome of the eighth plebiscite of the Belauan people on the retention of their 1979 constitution; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which the two further referendums to be held in August relating to United States proposals for defence are consistent with the duties imposed on the United Kingdom and the United States by the creation of the United Nations Strategic Trust Territory which includes Belau (Petan).
§ Mr. EggarA plebiscite was held in Belau (Palau) on 30 June 1987 on the terms of a compact of free association between Belau (Palau) and the United States. It was monitored by a United Nations observer mission chaired by the United Kingdom. We are awaiting the mission's report. The referenda which the Belau (Palau) Government propose to hold in August concern an amendment to the Belauan (Palauan) constitution, and the terms of the compact of free association. Under article 83 of the United Nations charter responsibility for exercising the functions of the United Nations relating to strategic trust territories belongs to the Security Council, with the assistance of the Trusteeship Council.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if the United Nations department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has held any discussions with the United States State Department as to the conduct of the referendum of 6 December in the United Nations Trust Territory of Belau;
(2) whether Her Majesty's Government will be sending official observers to monitor the conduct of the referendum on 6 December in the United Nations Trust Territory of Belau;
(3) whether the United Kingdom representative on the Trusteeship Council will be taking part in the observer delegation sent by the Trusteeship Council to monitor the conduct of the December 6 referendum in the United Nations Trust Territory of Belau;
(4) what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the referendum taking place in the United Nations Trust Territory of Belau on 6 December.