18. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is now the intention of Her Majesty's Government to become a member of the United Nations Council for Namibia; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss Joan LestorWe are examining the whole question of Namibia, including our attitude towards the Council for Namibia. I cannot now anticipate the outcome of this review.
Mr. EvansWill my hon. Friend ensure that when the review is made the Government will accept the 1971 opinion of the International Court of Justice and will support all constructive and effective measures in the United Nations to oblige South Africa to comply with its obligations to withdraw from Namibia? Will she also recall that in the document to which the Foreign Secretary referred earlier this afternoon—the Labour Party's policy on foreign affairs, issued in 1973—it was said that we should be willing to participate in the United Nations Council for Namibia? Will she ensure that nothing is done to imply recognition of South Africa's illegal occupation of Namibia?
§ Miss LestorI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his interest in this matter. I share his general concern about Namibia. In reply to his question about the 1971 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, he will appreciate, as I am sure we all do, that it needs careful examination before we make known our judgment and views on it. Although I am aware of my hon. Friend's impatience, it would not be right for me to anticipate this afternoon the outcome of our examination.
§ Mr. Brocklebank-FowlerWhat representations have Her Majesty's Government made to the Secretary-General of the United Nations to reactivate the work of his team in bringing about a peaceful solution of the problem?
§ Miss LestorThe Security Council will have to be recalled to discuss it, and no date has yet been fixed for that. It is a matter for the president to convene the council in consultation with its members. We are all very impatient that a decision should be made quickly.
§ Mr. George CunninghamWill my hon. Friend express her intense disapproval of the flogging penalties imposed by the courts in Ovamboland?
§ Miss LestorYes, I certainly will. We all deplore these barbarous practices. We in Britain should take every opportunity to make clear our views. I regret that there have been reports of other cases which we have again taken up with the South African Government.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonWhile agreeing with the Government that they should think very carfeully about their policy towards South-West Africa, may I ask that Her Majesty's Government, as a major contributor to the United Nations Organisation, should not become involved in major expenditure and should scrutinise the expenditure on the administration which apparently exists in the United Nations of a territory which it cannot enter?
§ Miss LestorThis is really another question. If the hon. Gentleman would care to put down a specific question on this matter, I should be very pleased to answer it.