HC Deb 14 July 1977 vol 935 cc761-2
6. Dr. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he will take to ensure the admission to the country of four black members of the team from Rhodesia for the International Stoke Mandeville Games for paraplegics, in the light of the fact that four white members holding British passports may be allowed in.

Dr. Summerskill

As my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary indicated in his reply to a Question by the hon. Member yesterday, we cannot agree to the entry of any members of this team unless the statement that individual members of the team would be representing Rhodesia is withdrawn.

Dr. Glyn

I am grateful for that reply. I realise that the situation has changed since the reply on 4th July. Will the hon. Lady deal with two specific matters? First, I understand that travel documents would be denied to black Rhodesians if they applied for them at Pretoria, but what is the position of a paraplegic who holds a British passport? Would he be denied travel documents? Secondly, I understand from the hon. Lady's reply that, if the Chairman of the Rhodesian Paraplegic Association was prepared to allow individuals to come as individuals and not as representatives of their country, they would be admitted and given the necessary travel documents.

Dr. Summerskill

On the first part of the supplementary question, even if a person has a British passport, if he wishes to come as a representative of Rhodesia or as a member of a team representing Rhodesia, what my right hon. Friend said in his statement would apply. Secondly, we have said that, if the chairman of the association is willing to withdraw his statement, we shall be glad to agree to the admission of these people as individuals.