HL Deb 07 November 1991 vol 532 cc320-2

3.12 p.m.

Lord Hatch of Lusby asked Her Majesty's Government:

What policy they adopted at the Harare Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference towards the lifting of sanctions on South Africa.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness)

My Lords, we called for the immediate lifting of sanctions on trade and investment and of financial sanctions.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, can the noble Earl tell the House whether it is the case that all members of the Commonwealth, with the exception of the United Kingdom, agreed that sanctions should be lifted in stages, those stages coinciding with practical proof that discrimination was being reduced and that a democratic constitution was in the process of being created?

The Earl of Caithness

No, my Lords, because everybody agrees that it should be a process that progresses at a certain pace. It was the pace of that process which was in question.

Lord Mellish

My Lords, is the Minister aware that some of us regard the conference as a bit of a farce as in countries like Zimbabwe hundreds of cars are being driven around on petrol which comes from South Africa? How can they tell us what to do about sanctions?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, they do not. We discuss the matter and form our own views.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs

My Lords, does the Minister agree that one of the major concerns in South Africa at present is the ending of violence and continuing the peace process? Therefore, can the Minister say whether any meetings are arranged between Her Majesty's Government and Mr. de Klerk or with Mr. Nelson Mandela or any member of the Patriotic Front to discuss both sanctions and the present situation in South Africa?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, the majority of the question posed by the noble Baroness was wide of that on the Order Paper. Of course there are regular contacts with people in South Africa on those questions.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is it not rather unfortunate that Her Majesty's Government persist in falling out of step with the rest of the Commonwealth on this matter? Are they satisfied that standing alone on those issues is the right policy to adopt?

The Earl of Caithness

Yes, my Lords. It is totally in line with our policy with other European Community members.

Lord Hatch of Lusby

My Lords, the noble Earl did not quite answer my original supplementary question. Is it the case that each of the other members of the Commonwealth believed and agreed that sanctions should be lifted by stages and that those stages should be related specifically to actions taken by the South African Government whereas the British Government desired all sanctions to be lifted immediately? In view of the revelations of the past few months, do the British Government not recognise that there is a great danger that, unless sanctions remain in force, the present South African Government could continue the policy which they themselves have admitted they have followed in the past of financing organisations within South Africa which are opposed to the ANC and majority rule?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, we, together with our Commonwealth partners and the other members of the European Community, agreed that we should lift sanctions by stages. It is the pace with which they are lifted which is important.