§ 2. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the United Nations Sanctions Committee to stop the breaking of sanctions against the illegal regime in Rhodesia.
§ Miss Joan LestorSo far this year we have reported 12 cases of suspected breaches of sanctions to the United Nations. Our representative on the Sanctions Committee has played and will continue to play a leading part in the committee's work towards more effective enforcement of sanctions.
§ Mr. HamiltonHave we had any sympathetic responses from our allies in Europe, and has there been evidence recently of attempts to break sanctions in respect of steel? Will my hon. Friend give an undertaking that, although it may be premature at the moment, the Government will consider making approaches to the new Portuguese Government to tighten up through the Portuguese territories in Africa so as to bring the illegal regime to heel?
§ Miss LestorI shall certainly convey what my hon. Friend has said to the Prime Minister. On the general point, as we are examining the whole question of making sanctions more effective, this applies of course to EEC countries. I take the point that it applies to the Portuguese and others who have been very disruptive in breaking down any effective sanctions that we hope to have.