§ LORD WINSTERMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can now make a statement regarding the future of the naval base at Simonstown and of the appointment of Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (LORD CARRINGTON)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are not in a position to make a statement on these questions. They have not yet completed their study of the report of the Admiralty mission which recently visited South Africa to discuss naval co-operation.
§ LORD WINSTERMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord, may I ask him whether he is aware that the Cape Nationalist Party has been urging the transfer of this base to the Union, not on strategic grounds but on the ground that Europeans and non-Europeans work alongside in the base and there is no apartheid there?