HC Deb 24 May 1973 vol 857 cc657-9
Q1. Mr. Raphael Tuck

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to convene a meeting of Heads of Governments in the United Nations to resolve the problem of sanctions against Rhodesia.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)

No, Sir. I do not think such a meeting is called for. The Security Council has just considered a report to the United Nations Sanctions Supervisory Committee which made recommendations about sanctions. Her Majesty's Government played their full part in the work of the committee.

Mr. Tuck

Why is the Prime Minister's approach to this problem so weak-kneed?

how much, for example, expenditure on housing and social services has risen over the last four years. Spending on social security per head of population is 7 per cent. up, on education 17 per cent. up, and on the health services 18 per cent. up. All these figures are in real terms. It is not a bad record.

Following is the information:

Does he think that his predecessor, Mr. Disraeli, would have been guilty of such spineless inactivity? Why does not the right hon. Gentleman call a meeting of the Governments concerned and make clear to them this country's determined disapproval of the violations of sanctions, such as the import of chrome by the United States, instead of allowing them to ride roughshod over United Nations policy and vitiate the whole purpose of sanctions?

The Prime Minister

This matter is being handled at the United Nations by the Security Council, which is the right forum. We ourselves have submitted to the United Nations over 170 notes about the breakage of sanctions, and in this country there have been 18 successful prosecutions. If the record of other countries were like ours, the hon. Gentleman would have no cause for criticism.

Mr. William Clark

Is it not ridiculous for the United Nations to pass resolutions when this country is about the only one conforming to the sanctions?

The Prime Minister

One of the difficulties about the resolutions brought forward was that they went further than had been agreed in the Sanctions Committee. We could have supported them as far as that, but when it was sought to extend them to Portugal and South Africa it was not possible for us to support such a change.

Mr. Healey

What action does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take against those involved in the Lonrho affair who are reported to have evaded sanctions through mining companies for which Lonrho is responsible? Does not he agree that this is one of the more unpleasant and unacceptable faces of capitalism to which he referred recently?

The Prime Minister

Any examples brought to our notice, either by the right hon. Gentleman or by anyone else, will be fully investigated.