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Iran
19 MAY 1980
Mr. Shore: This is a very unsatisfac- tory statement. The Lord Privy Seal will know from last week's debate that it was our view a view widely shared in the House--that there should be further diplomatic efforts before triggering the sanctions against Iran. Does he not con- sider that the events of the last 72 hours, including President Bani-Sadr's open ap- peal to Britain and other European coun- tries for a political initiative, the United Nations resumed mission to Tehran, and the bringing forward to next week of the date of the opening of the Iranian Parlia- ment, strongly reinforce the case for a measure of delay?
Secondly, is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the House and the coun- try are now totally confused about the Government's sanctions policy? The Iran (Temporary Powers) Act and ministerial speeches clearly indicated that existing contracts would be exempt, at least in the first stage. Why, then, have the Gov- ernment changed their mind? Has not the decision to make sanctions retrospec- tive to 4 November made complete non- sense of the Act and of last week's de- bate?
I note what is said about the laying of orders, and I hope that arrangements will now be made for an early debate.
Finally, may I express my amazement and disquiet that the Minister has seen fit to confine his statement to Iran and to say nothing about the whole range of issues, including Afghanistan, East-West relations, the Middle East and the United Kingdom's contribution to the EEC budget, which have surely been the main subjects for discussion at Vienna, Naples, and now Warsaw during the past three to four days? This is not the way in which to treat the House, and I give notice that we shall expect a further statement on these matters tomorrow.
Sir I. Gilmour : As the right hon. Gentleman implied, there have, of course, been diplomatic contacts with Iran over the last few days, and he will be aware that the Foreign Ministers of the Nine re- ferred to them in the last paragraph of their declaration. As I said in my state- ment, the Foreign Ministers did not think that they constituted decisive progress leading to the release of the hostages.
On the question of retrospection, the right hon. Gentleman is not quite right.
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Iran
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He will be aware of what the Minister of State said in the House on the Second Reading of the Iran (Temporary Powers) Bill. In order to make it clear to the House I shall quote what my hon. Friend said at col. 919 of the Official Report. In fact, at col. 921 he said it better- [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker: Order. Hon. Members must not rise while another Member is addressing the House.
Sir I. Gilmour: I am prepared to read column 919 later, but column 921 is more comprehensive. The Minister of State/ said:
"The hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) asked about existing trade under exist- ing contracts. This Bill gives the Government no power under existing contracts. Powers exist under the 1939 Act not over contracts, but as regards the shipment of goods. No deci- sion has been taken to use those powers. No decision would be taken unless it were clear that our main competitors were doing the same. If any such proposal were made, it would have to be submitted to this House for approval." [Official Report, 12 May 1980; Vol. 984, c. 921.]
That deals with the second point.
Concerning the right hon. Gentleman's third point, we shall debate the orders as soon as possible. That will have to be decided in conjunction with our partners and with the usual channels.
As to the right hon. Gentleman's fourth point, he displayed, if I may say so, some ignorance about Community pro- cedures. He will be aware that this was an informal meeting of Foreign Ministers, of the sort that takes place every six decisions to be taken at these informal months, and that it is not customary for
meetings. It was not customary under the previous Government, and it is not cus- tomary under the present Government, for a statement to be made after them. I am making a statement about Iran because Foreign Ministers agreed exceptionally at Naples that their several Governments would now take certain action. In view of last week's debate, I thought it was only courtesy to the House to make a state- ment.
Mr. Shore: I should like to press the right hon. Gentleman a little further on the last part of his answer; indeed, I should like to press him on virtually everything that he said. It really will not do to make a statement to the House on