§ Mr. LesterTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the report of76W the United Kingdom observers sent to the 20 March elections in El Salvador to be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarA copy of the report by Dr. David Browning has now been laid on the table of the House. The report has now been published, and copies have been placed in the Library.
The report's findings are that, despite the difficult conditions imposed by the continuing civil war, the conduct of the elections was reasonably free, fair and secure; that voters were presented with a real, albeit limited choice; and that the election provided a genuine opportunity for voters to express an opinion about the record of previously elected representatives.
The report is a balanced and objective assessment of the way in which the legislative and municipal elections were conducted, and I commend it to those who have an interest in El Salvador.