§ Q5. Mr. Hastingsasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a further statement on Rhodesia.
§ Mr. James JohnsonOn a point of order. Is it possible to find out why the Question of the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings) is answered in this way while humbler mortals like myself have their Questions transferred to the Commonwealth Secretary?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is a question not for me but for the Minister concerned.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to the Answer I gave on 13th June to a Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys). —[Vol. 748, c. 305.]
§ Mr. HastingsHas the right hon. Gentleman seen reports of the great increases in exports from France, Japan and even the E.F.T.A. countries? Does he not realise that, whatever happens to next year's tobacco crop or the tobacco crop of the year after, Rhodesia will never be brought down by his sanctions policy? Is it not quite unrealistic to talk of negotiations or even to despatch Lord Alport to Rhodesia while he preaches that N.I.B.M.A.R. is his policy?
§ The Prime MinisterI have seen the figures for many countries and there have been some increases, but vast reductions have been made by some countries which previously traded with Rhodesia. As to the effect of sanctions, the difference between us is that the hon. Gentleman does not want to see the Rhodesian illegal régime brought to constitutional rule. We do want to see that, and that has been the purpose of all our policies.
§ Mr. HuckfieldHow much of Rhodesia's trade is still done with Zambia?
§ The Prime MinisterA sharply diminished amount. For obvious reasons, 256 because the two countries are contiguous —this applies also to Malawi and one or two others—it has not been possible to cut it out altogether, but there has been a sharp reduction made by Zambia.