asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on progress towards a common European Economic Community foreign policy.

The Ten continue to work closely together. Foreign Ministers met on 23 February in Brussels and a wide range of foreign policy issues were discussed. The practical measures to improve political co-operation agreed by Foreign Ministers on 23 October—known as the London report—are being implemented.

In what spheres will foreign affairs initiatives be taken by the Community in the next few months? Does my right hon. Friend expect any further developments that will affect the Middle East?

I expect political discussion and co-operation between members of the Community to continue and to improve as time goes by, in accordance with the arrangements made at the meeting in London to which I referred. I cannot now forecast the precise direction in which those initiatives will be mounted.

Will the right hon. Gentleman enlighten the House about the EEC's policy towards events in the Horn of Africa? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Ethiopian Army, with the aid of Soviet Migs and tanks, has evicted ethnic Somalis from the Ogaden, their ancient homeland? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that, with the aid of EEC money, Ethiopian peasants are being settled on that land? Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that that is a form of genocide?

I am aware of the problems and difficulties in that part of the world and I know that such matters engage the attention of the Ministers of the Ten. No doubt they will be discussed.

Do not the Lord Privy Seal's pious platitudes about political co-operation sound slightly hollow given that a Community initiative on El Salvador was possible? Why did the Lord Privy Seal break ranks with the rest of the EEC over El Salvador, when that was a perfect example of an opportunity for a Community initiative?

At the Opposition's suggestion, the House spent three hours discussing El Salvador yesterday. I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman did not profit from that discussion.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that we would be better able to co-operate in foreign policy with our friends on the other side of the English Channel were it not for the fact that in the last two months of last year we had a balance of trade deficit in manufactures of about £830 million—almost as much as one year's deficit with Japan—and for the massive haemorrhage of jobs that our present relationship with the Community has caused?

My hon. Friend's description of the position is not accurate, and that position has had no effect on the political discussions between the Ministers of the Ten.