HL Deb 14 December 1994 vol 559 cc120-1WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will resist the application by Turkey for a loan of £190 million from the Social Development Fund of the Council of Europe if it is to be used to build fortified villages in the Kurdish area of eastern Turkey; and whether they agree that any loan should be used to rehouse those already living in shanty towns at Diyarbakir and elsewhere.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

We understand from the Secretariat of the Council of Europe that no request has been received by Turkey for a loan from the Social Development Fund (SDF). Although the UK is not a member of the SDF, it is open to us to make our views known about applications to the fund. It would be premature for us to comment in the absence of any specific request from Turkey.