HC Deb 08 November 1971 vol 825 c617
6. Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what official meetings he proposes in the next three months with sporting bodies in Wales.

The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mr. David Gibson-Watt):

I have at present no such meetings arranged for the next three months, but I shall be officially opening a squash rackets club at Newport in January.

Mr. John:

In view of the decision of the Cardiff Rugby Football Clubs, with the approval of the Welsh Rugby Union, to visit the rebellious and racist regime in Rhodesia, should not the hon. Gentleman fix a meeting so that he may notify the members of those organisations of the damage they are doing to the game of rugby football and to the image of Wales in the world? Should he not also tell them that they do not divest themselves of their responsibility as British citizens when they take part in sport?

Mr. Gibson-Watt:

This is not a specifically Welsh Office matter. The attitude of Her Majesty's Government to these visits was made clear on 28th October in a Written Answer to the hon. Member for Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock).—[Vol. 823, c. 449.]