HC Deb 22 May 1973 vol 857 cc215-6
Q1. Mr. Haselhurst

asked the Prime Minister whether he will undertake an official tour of the African continent.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Anthony Barber)

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend hopes, when dates can be arranged, to take up several outstanding invitations to visit countries in Africa; but he has no plans to visit Africa at present.

Mr. Haselhurst

While one accepts that Britain's relations with African countries are probably better now than at any time, may I ask whether it would not be right that the Prime Minister should signify the importance that the Government give to the needs and concerns of the Third World by making an early official visit to a number of Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth countries in Africa?

Mr. Barber

This is purely a question of time. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told my hon. Friend last Thursday, we maintain close contact with the leaders of African countries, and my right hon. and hon. Friends have paid visits to most of the countries of Africa. Of course, we have had the pleasure of entertaining many African leaders here in London. We attach the greatest importance to these contacts. In reply to my hon. Friend's last point, for instance, General Gowon will be coming here next month to pay a State visit.

Mr. Faulds

Without despatching the Prime Minister to Africa, is it not clear that the Smith-Home proposals are as dead as the dodo and that the Africans are not interested in their resurrection? Do not the Government realise that only negotiations based on the principle of NIBMR have any relevance to the realities of Southern Rhodesia?

Mr. Barber

What is required now is for the two races in Rhodesia to come together and try to reach an agreement. I say that because the problems of Rhodesia can eventually be solved only by the Rhodesians themselves. It is up to them to agree to an acceptable basis for a settlement.