5. Mr. loan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further progress has been made in Her Majesty's Government's examination of the question of Namibia.
§ Miss Joan LestorI refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's statement in the House on 4th December.— [Vol. 882, c. 1555–64.]
Mr. EvansMy hon. Friend will have seen the text of the resolution which was carried unanimously in the Security Council yesterday condemning the South African's illegal occupation of Namibia. Will she convey to the Foreign Secretary 1554 the wish that when he travels to meet Commonwealth leaders in Africa—we wish him well on the journey—he should consult African leaders with a view to persuading them to use their good offices to ensure that the South African Government negotiate with SWAPO to bring in the immediate independence of Namibia at the earliest possible date, and certainly before 30th May next, which is the date contained in the resolution?
§ Miss LestorMy right hon. Friend will be meeting SWAPO leaders in Lusaka when he goes there. We have already said that we consider the South African occupation of Namibia unlawful and that we hope to see an independent Namibia as soon as possible.
§ Mr. CormackDoes not the question of the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans) show it to be all the more absurd that when the Foreign Secretary is paying a visit to Africa he should miss out what is by any standard one of the most important nations in that continent? Will the hon. Lady persuade her right hon. Friend to think again and go to South Africa and discuss this and many issues of burning importance?
§ Miss LestorNothing that my right hon. Friend does is absurd. It is up to him whether or not he visits South Africa.