HL Deb 14 January 1986 vol 469 cc977-80

3.58 p.m.

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, with the leave of the House I shall now repeat the Answer which has been given to a Private Notice Question in another place on supply routes from South Africa to Lesotho. The Answer is as follows: "We view this matter very seriously indeed. We do not believe that the problems between South Africa and Lesotho can be resolved by coercion. We are making known to the South African Government our concern that the restrictions on border traffic should be lifted and that both sides should embark on a dialogue to resolve their differences without delay".

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, we are grateful to the noble Baroness for repeating the Answer given to the Private Notice Question asked in another place. We also appreciate the spirit of the noble Baroness's brief reply. We are conscious that, landlocked within South Africa as it is, Lesotho is in a sensitive and difficult position. The noble Baroness will recall the raid into Lesotho by South Africa on 20th December.

I have two brief questions to put to the noble Baroness primarily on the subject. First,. did Her Majesty's Government support the Security Council Resolution censuring South Africa, and is there not a connection between Lesotho's complaint to the United Nations and the imposition of border controls, which Her Majesty's Government and the Opposition deplore?

Secondly, can the noble Baroness say what are the economic and social implications for the people of Lesotho, a former British protectorate, of the serious restrictions? Are we planning to help them to overcome their difficulties in any way? Against this background, can she say whether the Government have made representations to the South African Government, and have they supported the appeal by the Government of Lesotho for immediate talks with South Africa?

Lord Walston

My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the noble Baroness for her reply, even though it does not shed a great deal of light on this serious and difficult problem. I support what the noble Lord. Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos, has said about approaches to the South African Government, but I should like to ask the noble Baroness whether two other possible courses of action by Her Majesty's Government have been considered. Presumably (the noble Baroness will be able to enlighten us on this) we have access to the person who used to be called the resident commissioner. I am not sure what his present title is, or whether he is called the high commissioner in Lesotho, but presumably we have access on a diplomatic basis through our embassy in Pretoria to him. Have the Government considered making use of those privileges to ensure that at least the diplomatic staff in Lesotho are taken care of, with possibly some surplus to take care of other priority cases, such as hospitals and the provision of medical care?

Secondly, I remind the noble Baroness that many years ago a somewhat similar situation arose in Berlin. When the Western Allies were illegally cut off from access to Berlin we immediately mounted a most successful airlift. Will Her Majesty's Government give thought to mounting an airlift of that kind, which would not present enormous difficulties given the fact that Zimbabwe is a friendly country, as is Zambia, and that both are within easy range of Lesotho? The possibility of flying in supplies to break this completely illegal cutting off of a former protectorate of this country and a member of the Commonwealth surely is something to which urgent thought should be given.

Baroness Hooper

Yes, my Lords, priority is being given by Her Majesty's Government to the need for dialogue between the parties concerned, and every effort is being made to encourage the lifting of restrictions which are preventing supplies from arriving easily. As I understand it, the situation is more of a go slow at the border rather than a complete block.

The noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, asked specifically whether the Government had supported Lesotho in relation to the Security Council resolution. I am able to say that the Government gave their full support to Lesotho and will continue to do so. The economic and social consequences, as we understand them, are that there is no immediate shortage in the shops and of provisions for the people of Lesotho. The United Kingdom will continue the normal aid programme to Lesotho, and we shall continue to provide capital aid and technical co-operation in the normal way. It must be remembered that the letter which we received from Chief Jonathan on the subject was received only yesterday afternoon and that it has been difficult to complete any immediate action. In other words, instructions have been sent to our ambassador in South Africa to make representations in support of Lesotho to the South African Government, but in view of time differences and so on I am not aware of what steps have as yet been taken.

In relation to the comments made by the noble Lord, Lord Walston, again I can repeat that in view of the instructions which have been sent to our ambassador in South Africa action will be taken by the high commissioner in Lesotho. Co-operation will extend between the ambassador and our high commissioner in Lesotho, and every care will be taken to ensure that no particular danger is incurred by our diplomatic staff there and that priority is given to hospital and medical supplies.

The noble Lord referred to the airlift to Berlin. We hope that the situation between Lesotho and South Africa will not reach such dramatic proportions. As I said, our emphasis at this moment is to ensure that dialogue is resumed and that border restrictions are lifted as soon as possible.

Lord Oram

My Lords, can the noble Baroness say what is the level of the aid programme which she says will now be maintained? Can she say whether contingency funds will be available either to meet the sort of expense that the airlift proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Walston, would entail or for long-term rehabilitation of the economy, if it suffers from the present action of the South African Government?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Oram, asked specifically about aid. Our present commitment to Lesotho is about £4 million a year, which includes both capital aid and technical co-operation. In addition, there is aid and contact from the EC through and under the Lomé Agreement. It is not envisaged at this moment that emergency measures need be taken. The request for aid from Chief Jonathan, which arrived yesterday, and our information on the situation, have not led us to consider that there is any need for such measures. I can only say that the position will be kept under review. If any dire consequences are seen to be emerging, and dangers to the local population, the Government will consider what steps need to be taken in that respect.

Lord Morris

My Lords, my noble friend draws comfort from the fact that the action of the Government of the Republic of South Africa is more in the nature of a go slow than a full-blooded blockade. Bearing in mind that so many of the goods that cross that border are of a perishable nature, particularly in that climate, will she bear this point in mind when considering the action that Her Majesty's Government might take in ensuring that this blockade is stopped as soon as possible?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, the Government have this point very much in mind. I shall note the points made by my noble friend Lord Morris. As I said, the go slow varies and it is hoped that it will be speeded up without delay.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that this aggressive action against Lesotho is part of a pattern of similar actions against Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Angola over the last few weeks by way of actual invasion or threatened invasion? When she says that the Government will make representations, is she not aware that representations have been made on similar occasions over many years without any effect whatever? Is it not now the case that Her Majesty's Government have abdicated the responsibility of taking any action such as has been mentioned by various noble Lords this afternoon?

Is it not the case also that not only are goods being blockaded but that Lesotho workers are being actively prevented from returning to work in the Republic of South Africa? Can the noble Baroness say what action, as distinct from words, Her Majesty's Government intend to take in this situation?

Baroness Hooper

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government will note the remarks made by the noble Lord, Lord Hatch, in full consideration of his knowledge of the area and of the subject. I can only say, however, that the intentions of the Government are to use their utmost endeavours to avoid imposing, for example, any economic or trade boycotts for the well-known reasons which have so often been quoted, and that we shall respond as fully as possible in the manner advocated at the Commonwealth Conference in October and in accordance with the Commonwealth accord.