§ Mr. NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked the Prime Minister if he has received any 1968 notification from the Union Government of South Africa with reference to a Bill, which has been read a third time by the Union Parliament, by which such Government will have the power of offering the carriage of British mails to foreign shipping lines in competition with British shipping?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)A Minute has been received from the Union Ministers containing the text of a clause in the Bill referred to, to which an amendment had been proposed in the Union Parliament confining mail contracts to British ships. This amendment was rejected, and the Bill as passed contains no differential provisions against British ships. On the 17th March the Union Minister of Posts and Telegraphs stated in the Union Parliament that the Union Government had never contemplated any but a British company, and never would entertain any contract with a company other than a British one.