To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of Guyana concerning the freedom of the forthcoming elections.

My right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development reminded President Hoyte of the importance which the Government attach to the principle of free and fair elections when they met him in October and December 1989.I also emphasised the need for elections to be free and fair when the Foreign Minister of Guyana called on me on 21 May 1990.