HC Deb 16 July 1980 vol 988 cc1482-4
13. Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Lord Privy Seal what recent representations have been made to South Africa regarding its defiance of the United Nations resolution over Namibia.

Mr. Luce

The Five Western Powers have told the South African Government that they support Dr. Waldheim's letter of 20 June to the South African Foreign Minister, in which Dr. Waldheim answered South Africa's questions about aspects of the arrangements for implementing the United Nations plan. The Five urged South Africa to reply positively.

Mr. Evans

Will the Government take firm action in the United Nations to end South Africa's illegal occupation of Namibia? As there are now incursions into Angola, and as the situation is developing, will the Minister take steps to bring an end to this illegal regime at the earliest possible moment, by bringing strong pressure to bear on the South African Government?

Mr. Luce

That is precisely what the Group of Five nations has been working at for the last several months—to persuade the various parties to reach agreement. The sooner they do so, the better it will be for everyone concerned.

Mr. David Steel

Are there any plans for direct ministerial contact with the South African Government in order to press forward this matter?

Mr. Luce

The Group of Five has its own means of contact with the South African Government, and uses it whenever it thinks it right to do so.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

Can my hon. Friend confirm that the occupation of South-West Africa by South Africa is not illegal, and that the South Africans were invited to go there in the first place to take over this territory? Can he also confirm that on several occasions the South African Government, together with the elected Members in South-West Africa, have agreed to arrangements made by the Western Powers and the United Nations, only to find those arrangements changed because of the intervention of SWAPO External? Does he agree that the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance is likely to be more representative of the best interests of South-West Africa than SWAPO External?

Mr. Luce

You invited us to answer only one question, Mr. Speaker, and I shall therefore choose to answer the first question. All the parties are committed to two important things: first, that there should be United Nations supervised elections; and, secondly, that there should be a demilitarised zone. Therefore, the gap is narrowing rapidly, and the sooner it is agreed upon, the better it will be for the future of the people of Namibia.

Mr. Winterton

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. My hon. Friend said that he would answer my first question, but he failed to do so. My first question was whether he would confirm that South Africa—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I believe that that was the Minister's way of answering the question. However, it is 3.10 pm, and we had better move on.