§ 7. Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade, when he expects to meet the South African Minister of Trade.
§ Mr. BrothertonIn view of the loss in the value of the pound, will the Secretary of State do all he can to ensure that we export as much as possible to South Africa, as well as to other African States, without regard to ideological considerations?
§ Mr. DellAt the end of 1974 a statement was made by my right hon. Friend the then Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary on trade with South Africa. That represents our policy. We shall certainly do everything we can to encourage civil trade with that country. The British Overseas Trade Board has an exhaustive list of promotional activities in South Africa, and I am glad to say that during 1975 we had considerable trading successes in that country.
§ Mr. Anthony GrantIf it is the Government's policy in every way to encourage trade with South Africa, which is one of our biggest customers, will the Minister consider an official ministerial visit to South Africa to explain the Government's policy more clearly to the South African Government?
§ Mr. DellI have not at this time any plans for such a visit, but my predecessor and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer have had discussions with South African Ministers during their visits to this country in which I am sure that the Government's policies were fully explained.
§ Mr. GoodhewThe right hon. Gentleman is careful to talk about civil trade. Does he not appreciate that the interests of this country and NATO cannot be cut off at the Tropic of Cancer and, therefore, if he is thinking not in terms of the ideas of Labour Members on racial conflict but of the ideological conflict 10 between the Communists and this country, it is in the interests of Great Britain to provide South Africa with the arms she needs to guard the Cape route, upon which we depend for so much? Will he stop—?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. This is not debating time; it is Question Time.
§ Mr. DellThe Government's position on this matter has been fully explained by the former Foreign Secretary, and I have nothing to add to what he said.