asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take steps to restore United Kingdom diplomatic relations with the Somali Republic.

No, Sir. We have no indication that the Somali Government, who broke off diplomatic relations in the first place, are interested in resuming them. If they were to show such interest, Her Majesty's Government would be glad to consider the matter.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that diplomatic relations were broken off because of the future of the Northern Frontier district of Kenya? Would he not further agree that now that Kenya is an independent State this dispute no longer directly concerns us and that there is now nothing in the way of a resumption of diplomatic relations, provided the Somali Republic wishes to resume them?

I certainly agree with what my hon. Friend has said, but, as I have said, we have no indication that the Somali Government at present wish to resume diplomatic relations.