HL Deb 30 March 1982 vol 428 cc1275-6

3.57 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 what progress has been made towards a settlement in Namibia.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Trefgarne)

My Lords, the Five remain in touch with all concerned about the replies to their revised proposals for constitutional principles for the Namibian Constituent Assembly. They hope soon to settle the questions which remain to be resolved in this phase of the negotiations.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, will the Minister agree that there has been a serious deterioration in the situation since we had our recent debate? First, last week did not the meeting of the senior officials involved declare that there had been "little progress"? Secondly, have not the front line states and SWAPO now rejected the proposal for double voting because of its complexity—seven columns, with the majority of the voters illiterate: Thirdly, what is the prospect of SWAPO referring the whole issue back to the Security Council because of this deadlock? Can the Minister particularly answer the question: What is the Government's view of SWAPO's proposal of direct negotiations with South Africa?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, if I may say so, that is a rather comprehensive supplementary question. However, I think that the situation is not necessarily as black as the noble Lord paints it. Certainly SWAPO and others have found some difficulties with proposals that were recently put forward in relation to the electoral system, and the Five are now concerned to clarify their position on their proposals to see whether there is any gloss which can be put on them to ease the difficulties which have been seen.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, would the noble Lord be good enough to clarify a little further what he has said, especially on the dual voting system, which, as my noble friend has said, is the obstacle? What is the view of Her Majesty's Government on the dual voting system as put forward? Is there any chance that this could be amended? If it is a major obstacle in the negotiations, would it not be desirable that there should be some concession on the voting system in order to achieve a settlement as quickly as possible?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, what has been proposed is a mixed system of proportional representation and single-member constituencies, which we think need not be unduly complicated and, indeed, could be put into effect without excessive expense or delay. We believe that it would be fair to all parties competing in the elections, and it is certainly not designed to favour one party or the other. We are now considering the difficulties which the parties have seen in these proposals, to see, as I said, what gloss can be put on them to ease the difficulties.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, could the Minister say what hope there now is of reaching the target of independence next year, not only because of the deadlock in the negotiations but because of the very complicated arrangements which will have to be made after an agreement is reached?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, we remain hopeful that the original timetable can be achieved. I would not regard the present situation as deadlocked, as the noble Lord describes it, and perhaps in due course there will be better things to report.