HC Deb 22 December 1976 vol 923 cc650-2
6. Mr. Tim Renton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to have a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Minister of South Africa.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Edward Rowlands)

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans for such a meeting.

Mr. Renton

Bearing in mind the extent to which developments in Rhodesia will inevitably impinge on South Africa, would it not be advisable for such a meeting to be held in the near future? To what extent does the Minister now regard the end of separate development in South Africa as inevitable? Over what time scale will that be? What effect does he think that will have on Britain's supply of vital raw materials?

Mr. Rowlands

On the first part of the question, we are in consultation with South Africa, and when Mr. Richard undertakes his shuttle during the Christmas Recess I think that there will be further consultations with the South African Government about Rhodesia. It is difficult at the moment to forecast the impact of the end of separate development on the South African economy or on the international economy. There seems to be no reason to suppose that the South Africans will have a change of heart on this issue.

Mr. Hooley

If the Minister meets the Foreign Secretary of South Africa, will he make clear that the United Kingdom completely stands by the resolution of the United Nations Security Council of 13th January this year and that we shall have nothing to do with any puppet régime set up in Namibia by the South African authorities?

Mr. Rowlands

Our views on Namibia are clearly expressed in the United Nations and in other international fora. We cannot support certain recent resolutions on this subject because of their extreme features, but that does not mean that we would support a puppet régime in Namibia.

Mr. Rifkind

Given the Government's refusal to accept that the Transkei is no longer a part of South Africa, will the Minister indicate how British interests are represented there?

Mr. Rowlands

They are not represented there because we do not recognise it to be an independent sovereign State.

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