HC Deb 16 April 1975 vol 890 cc419-20
6. Mr. Blaker

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the use of international sport as a political weapon.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Mr. Denis Howell)

The Government are opposed to sport being used to serve political ends and to the manipulation of individual sportsmen and sportswomen.

Mr. Blaker

Does that interesting reply mean that the Government no longer intend to discourage British sporting teams visiting countries of whose règimes the Government may disapprove?

Mr. Howell

I presume that the hon. Gentleman means South Africa.

Mr. Blaker

indicated assent.

Mr. Howell

If so, he totally fails to understand the situation. It is the South African Government who have imposed their policy on the whole of world sport. Bodies such as the International Olympic Committee, FIFA and every other international body of sport have had to react to the imposition of the South African political system on world sport. It is that situation about which I am complaining.

Mr. Dalyell

If we accept the South African system, what will be the result in terms of the withdrawal of countries like Tanzania, Kenya and others?

Mr. Howell

The reaction of world sport to the South African situation has, interestingly, produced many changes and is producing changes in South Africa. To the extent that those changes are progressive, we welcome them. Clearly, no international sport can take place where one country tries to discriminate between one sportsman and another not on merit but on some other ground.

Mr. Monro

Will the Minister accept that there is some inconsistency in his present position? Furthermore, will he accept that South Africa is taking marked steps in the right direction towards multiracial sports and merit selection and that everyone in this country should be working towards harmony?

Mr. Howell

I am the model of consistency in these matters. I have acknowledged that changes are taking place. They have not gone anything like far enough. One of the things about which the sport bodies complain was typified last weekend when the British World Cup Final referee had to intervene in a situation involving segregated grounds and non-multiracial teams playing against each other.

Mr. Skinner

Does my hon. Friend agree that while some boycotts are not necessarily productive, in this particular case it can be argued that the attempts to outlaw, certainly on the cricket field. the South Africans from participating with ourselves and some other countries have resulted quite recently in South Africa having to change its policy and invite two coloured players to take part in the recent cricket match against the Robbins XI?

Mr. Howell

It is true that changes have come as a result of pressure from the outside world. We welcome the changes which the South African Government have made, but we wish that the South African Government would make more progressive changes without the need for great outside pressure to bring them about.