HC Deb 02 November 2001 vol 373 cc910-1W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were living in Zimbabwe on 1 September. [12081]

Mr. Bradshaw

On 1 September 2001 there were 25,223 British nationals registered with the British High Commission in Harare.

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make provision for Zimbabwean farmers who have had their land removed from them, and have been forced to leave their home country, to receive compensation for their loss. [12095]

Mr. Bradshaw

The Government of Zimbabwe are responsible for land seizures in that country. They remain responsible for meeting their legal obligations in implementing land reform. In Abuja, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed our willingness to make a significant contribution to a fair, effective and sustainable land reform programme on the basis of the UNDP proposals of December 2000. He made it clear that our support for land reform depended on action by the Government of Zimbabwe to implement the commitments it made in Abuja. We have so far seen little evidence of such implementation. We understand that UNDP have an assessment mission in Zimbabwe at the moment looking at the prospects for a credible land reform programme. We welcome this. But in the circumstances, it is too soon to speculate on a possible UK financial contribution and the possible arrangements for payment.

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