HL Deb 20 March 1978 vol 389 cc1561-3

2.43 p.m.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave 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 will support (1) the appeal of the Government of Lesotho to the Security Council of the United Nations for action arising from the blockade of Lesotho's frontiers by the Republic of South Africa and (2) the provision of emergency supplies of food to Lesotho by the EEC Commission.

The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Lord Peart)

My Lords, the Government are not aware of any appeal by the Government of Lesotho for action by the Security Council. The Government of Lesotho have asked the United Nations Secretary-General to despatch a fact-finding mission to the area of Lesotho where restrictions have been imposed at three border posts. We support this request. We also support the decision by the EEC Commissioner to expedite the despatch of food aid to Lesotho.

Lord BROCKWAY

My Lords, while greatly appreciating the action of the EEC, and in particular of Commissioner Cheysson, may I ask my noble friend this question: In view of the fact that Lesotho is surrounded by South African territory and is suffering from an absence of food supplies and from difficulties in relation to its cattle trade, and in view of the fact that it is so courageously standing against Bantustan and apartheid, would not the United Nations be justified in giving assistance to it in this situation?

Lord PEART

My Lords, I must be fair here. I am advised that there is no evidence that, for example, the South African Government are involved in these measures, which have been taken by the authorities in the Transkei. In any case, this is not a matter for the British Government. But I must say this to my noble friend. We have given considerable aid to Lesotho. British capital aid for the triennium 1976–79 amounts to £11.5 million. In addition, we have offered £2 million in response to a report, made by a United Nations mission which visited Lesotho in March 1977, recommending international aid amounting to 113 million dollars. We cannot be ashamed of our policy here. We have done the right thing.

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, would the noble Lord the Leader of the House not agree that, if in the future any form of action by the United Nations took the form of economic sanctions against South Africa, this would be wholly disastrous for Lesotho?

Lord PEART

My Lords, I accept that, because Lesotho relies so much on economic links there. May I also say that there is a possibility that a further United Nations mission will be sent to Lesotho to follow up the two previous missions which visited the country in 1977. So we are well aware of the importance of this area.