6. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth 426 Affairs whether he has completed his review of Southern Africa policy; and, in particular, whether Her Majesty's Government will now accept the 1971 opinion of the International Court on Namibia and will therefore support effective measures at the United Nations to oblige South Africa to withdraw from Namibia.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Miss Joan Lestor)I have nothing to add at this time to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave in reply to Questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans) and other hon. Members on 26th June.—[Vol. 875, c. 1538–40.]
Mr. EvansDoes my hon. Friend realise that our hopes and expectations that this Government would make an early review are giving way to a growing disappointment? We can understand that we cannot have the complete review, but would it not be possible to take items from the manifesto, such as a recognition of the International Court decision on Namibia, and have an announcement before the recess?
§ Miss LestorNo one in the House is more impatient than I am to reach an early decision on the matter. Much of the problem of Namibia rests on the legal aspects. We are having the whole question of the International Court's judgment examined. Until that examination is completed, it is difficult to deal with other aspects of the Namibia situation separately. Announcements will be made as time goes on. I cannot give a date when we shall be able to make an announcement, but I assure my hon. Friend and others who have shown a great interest in the matter that our policy towards the review and other matters concerning Namibia is being considered with concern and sympathy for the Namibians.
§ Mr. Russell JohnstonIs the hon. Lady saying that she has no idea of when she may be able to indicate whether the Government accept the 1971 judgment of the court on the status of Namibia? It is extraordinary that she can make no forecast. Have the Government in their possession any evidence of acts of repression within Namibia? If so, what action does the hon. Lady propose in order to 427 bring this to the attention of the United Nations?
§ Miss LestorI cannot give the House a date—I wish I could—because much of the consideration rests with the Law Officers. I regret that this has taken so long, but it is a complex subject, not something about which one can give an overall decision in two or three weeks. We have been making a detailed review of the whole matter.
With regard to matters of repression and aggression towards Namibians, we have made known our views and our protests. We are sending an observer to the trials which are now taking place involving SWAPO, and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that our protests are known and heeded.