To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to widen and develop relations with the government of Bolivia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to widen and develop relations with the government of Bolivia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) the decision of Bolivia to rewrite its Constitution and (b) the likely impact on (i) human rights, (ii) the growth of democracy and (iii) Bolivia's relations with (A) its South American neighbours,...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) the decision of Bolivia to rewrite its Constitution and (b) the likely impact on (i) human rights, (ii) the growth of democracy and (iii) Bolivia's relations with (A) its South American neighbours,...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Bolivia about its campaign for the UN to legalise coca.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Bolivia about its campaign for the UN to legalise coca.

Lords debate on motion to call attention to recent developments in Latin America. Motion withdrawn.

Lords debate on motion to call attention to recent developments in Latin America. Motion withdrawn.

My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for initiating this debate today and for the excellent speech that he has just made in introducing our discussion. Between the noble Viscount’s departure and subsequent return to this House, we have missed his valuable contributions to foreign policy debates on Latin America. His...

My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for initiating this debate today and for the excellent speech that he has just made in introducing our discussion. Between the noble Viscount’s departure and subsequent return to this House, we have missed his valuable contributions to foreign policy debates on Latin America. His...

My Lords, for the second time in a week I wonder how I have the courage to intervene in a debate which has so far produced such expert speeches. I thank the noble Viscount for giving us an opportunity to talk about this important subject. I can never remember whether we met in Peru 35 years...

My Lords, for the second time in a week I wonder how I have the courage to intervene in a debate which has so far produced such expert speeches. I thank the noble Viscount for giving us an opportunity to talk about this important subject. I can never remember whether we met in Peru 35 years...

rose to call attention to recent developments in Latin America; and to move for Papers. The noble Viscount said: My Lords, we now move from domestic pensions to Latin America, which is quite a different subject. My thanks are due to the noble Lord, Lord Williamson of Horton, for allowing me...

rose to call attention to recent developments in Latin America; and to move for Papers. The noble Viscount said: My Lords, we now move from domestic pensions to Latin America, which is quite a different subject. My thanks are due to the noble Lord, Lord Williamson of Horton, for allowing me...

My Lords, my thanks also go to the noble Viscount, not only for his kind personal remarks but also for his splendid introduction. It is great to see him back on the red Benches. He still waved the flag, or flags, for the countries of Latin America during his gap...

My Lords, my thanks also go to the noble Viscount, not only for his kind personal remarks but also for his splendid introduction. It is great to see him back on the red Benches. He still waved the flag, or flags, for the countries of Latin America during his gap...

My Lords, the House of Lords has changed a good deal recently, but there is one activity that has not changed: the dedication of my noble kinsman Lord Montgomery of Alamein in sponsoring debates on Latin America. These debates have been a landmark throughout a generation. It is true that during...

My Lords, the House of Lords has changed a good deal recently, but there is one activity that has not changed: the dedication of my noble kinsman Lord Montgomery of Alamein in sponsoring debates on Latin America. These debates have been a landmark throughout a generation. It is true that during...

My Lords, I was in another place for 31 years and I cannot remember following two speakers and agreeing with both on almost everything they said. On this occasion, I have that pleasure. I add my congratulations to the noble Viscount on instigating this debate. It is a joy to see him back and active in...

My Lords, I was in another place for 31 years and I cannot remember following two speakers and agreeing with both on almost everything they said. On this occasion, I have that pleasure. I add my congratulations to the noble Viscount on instigating this debate. It is a joy to see him back and active in...

My Lords, I wish to make two quick points before I come to my principal remarks. The decree by Bolivia’s President Morales to nationalise the petroleum and natural gas operations is a blow to western interests, including that of British Gas. While sentiments of helping the poor are welcome if that is...

My Lords, I wish to make two quick points before I come to my principal remarks. The decree by Bolivia’s President Morales to nationalise the petroleum and natural gas operations is a blow to western interests, including that of British Gas. While sentiments of helping the poor are welcome if that is...

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Viscount on having initiated this debate. By that I mean a bit more than the ritual that one usually goes through—in my short time in your Lordships’ House, this is the first time that I can recall on which there has been a debate on...

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Viscount on having initiated this debate. By that I mean a bit more than the ritual that one usually goes through—in my short time in your Lordships’ House, this is the first time that I can recall on which there has been a debate on...

My Lords, like other noble Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Viscount, Lord Montgomery of Alamein, for giving the House the opportunity to discuss Latin America. I hope that the noble Lord, Lord Luke, will accept my apologies if I group south and central America as Latin America at least for this afternoon....

My Lords, like other noble Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Viscount, Lord Montgomery of Alamein, for giving the House the opportunity to discuss Latin America. I hope that the noble Lord, Lord Luke, will accept my apologies if I group south and central America as Latin America at least for this afternoon....

My Lords, I too would like to congratulate the noble Viscount, Lord Montgomery, on securing this very interesting debate. I agree with my noble friends Lord Walker and Lady Hooper that it is grand to see him back in the House and championing Latin American causes so eloquently. This debate coincides today with Bolivia’s talks...

My Lords, I too would like to congratulate the noble Viscount, Lord Montgomery, on securing this very interesting debate. I agree with my noble friends Lord Walker and Lady Hooper that it is grand to see him back in the House and championing Latin American causes so eloquently. This debate coincides today with Bolivia’s talks...

My Lords, I have only a minute or two in which to reply, so let me first thank all noble Lords who have spoken, particularly for their very kind remarks about me personally, but also for the extraordinarily wide range of this debate. It is quite clear that we have covered...

My Lords, I have only a minute or two in which to reply, so let me first thank all noble Lords who have spoken, particularly for their very kind remarks about me personally, but also for the extraordinarily wide range of this debate. It is quite clear that we have covered...

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Viscount on securing this debate. However, I am very sorry that he referred to the area as Latin America, as I believe that one reason we in this country focus so seldom on that part of the world is that we use that all-embracing and...

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Viscount on securing this debate. However, I am very sorry that he referred to the area as Latin America, as I believe that one reason we in this country focus so seldom on that part of the world is that we use that all-embracing and...

My Lords, the Latin American world is undergoing a process that involves politics, poverty and economic advance, each one a tension with the others, to which we should pay great attention. The International Monetary Fund reviewed the Latin American economy last week, and the general picture is that it is...

My Lords, the Latin American world is undergoing a process that involves politics, poverty and economic advance, each one a tension with the others, to which we should pay great attention. The International Monetary Fund reviewed the Latin American economy last week, and the general picture is that it is...

My Lords, the noble Viscount, Lord Montgomery, has chosen an exciting time to discuss Latin America. He has also managed to bring what may be only a short burst of Latin American weather with him, which is rather nice. My credentials for joining the discussion are modest. I am only an emergency...

My Lords, the noble Viscount, Lord Montgomery, has chosen an exciting time to discuss Latin America. He has also managed to bring what may be only a short burst of Latin American weather with him, which is rather nice. My credentials for joining the discussion are modest. I am only an emergency...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Viscount on having persuaded the Convenor to include this debate in our proceedings and thank him for his helpful introductory speech. As the two previous speakers said, the debate is topical in view of the troubling events of this week. Latin America has probably had...

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Viscount on having persuaded the Convenor to include this debate in our proceedings and thank him for his helpful introductory speech. As the two previous speakers said, the debate is topical in view of the troubling events of this week. Latin America has probably had...