§ 9. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will now take a new initiative in the United Nations Security Council to end the illegal occupation of Namibia by South Africa.
§ Mr. RowlandsWe have just had a full debate in the Security Council which began on 31st August and continued intermittently until 19th October. We would expect the Security Council to discuss Namibia again next year unless a satisfactory solution has been found in the meantime. We shall of course continue to consult closely with others inside and outside the United Nations about the question of Namibian independence and freedom.
§ Mr. HooleyIs my hon. Friend aware that the unanimous vote supported by the United Kingdom for the Security Council resolution on 31st January was important and a step forward in relation to Namibia? Does he accept that it is no use voting for those excellent and impeccable principles unless we are prepared to follow up with positive pressure on South Africa? At the moment, we seem to be pursuing an ambivalent policy.
§ Mr. RowlandsI think that we are following up with positive pressure. What I am not willing to do is to exercise or allow Chapter 7 determination provisions to be passed in this case. That is the difference between my hon. Friend and myself. There is not an absence of positive pressure, but we are trying to bring about co-operation with others.