HL Deb 19 July 1979 vol 401 cc1499-500

3.19 p.m.

Viscount MASSEREENE and FERRARD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can confirm the truth or otherwise of the reports that the Soviet Government have been consistently breaking sanctions by the import of chrome from Rhodesia.

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (Lord Carrington)

My Lords, the Government have seen Press reports about the importation of chrome by the Soviet Union; but they are not in a position to confirm the authenticity of these reports.

VISCOUNT MASSEREENE and FERRARD

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. My information is that Russia has been breaking sanctions by importing chrome and other products from Rhodesia. Is my noble friend aware that I have been informed that two years ago one of the largest consignments of chrome ever reported to have left Rhodesia was, in fact, loaded into Russian ships at Beira, destined for Russia? If that is the case, would not my noble friend agree that it is iniquitous that a country such as Russia—together with her satellites and fellow travellers in the Afro-Asian bloc and elsewhere—which has been foremost in upholding the imposition of sanctions on Rhodesia, should, during this time, be conniving at breaking sanctions for her own commercial gain?

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, my noble friend is quite right that there have been Press reports and rumours from time to time about the Soviet Union importing chrome. But the Government have no firm evidence that that is so. However, if it were so, it would be iniquitous.

Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTON

My Lords, do not the Government have firm evidence from their American friends that chrome imported by America from Russia was traced to Rhodesian origins? In any event, is not the Russian importation of Rhodesian chrome quite trivial compared to their importation of Rhodesian tobacco?

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, I am not aware of that evidence.

Lord DRUMALBYN

My Lords, is my noble friend aware of Russia trading in chrome without importing it but what is commonly called laundering it?

Lord CARRINGTON

No, my Lords.

Lord LEATHERLAND

My Lords, can the noble Lord the Foreign Secretary tell us whether the first part of his original Question means that we should never believe everything we read in the papers?

Lord CARRINGTON

My Lords, it was not my Question.