HC Deb 01 February 1966 vol 723 cc191-2W
64. Mr. Hogg

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consideration he has given to the request of Mr. A. R. Lewis, of St. Peter's Mission, Mandea, P.O. Honde, Umtali, Rhodesia, for continued help to Christian missions in Rhodesia despite sanctions; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Bottomley

No request has been received from the Rev. A. R. Lewis, of St. Peter's Mission, Umtali, for continued help to Christian missions in Rhodesia.

A letter from the Rev. Lewis alleging that missionary work in Rhodesia was being prevented by the action of the Bank of England in blocking remittances from the United Kingdom was published in the January 11th issue of The Times. This allegation was refuted in an article by Canon Kingsnorth, the Africa Secretary of the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Rev. Lewis' parent body, which appeared in the Church Times of January 14th. I quote from Canon Kingsnorth's article:

"The Treasury has been sympathetic and helpful in this matter, and has now agreed that we can send, in quarterly instalments, seventy-five per cent. of the regular maintenance grants made last year. It has further given permission to send scholarship money for individual African school children which will cover all our contributions."

Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on how many occasions since 1922 his predecessors have advised Her Majesty on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative in Rhodesia.

Mr. Bottomley

I assume that this Question refers to the Royal Prerogative of Mercy. There were no such occasions.

Mr. Ioan L. Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations which Governments have recognised the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia.

Mr. Bottomley

None.

Mr. Edward M. Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what reports he has received about the effects of the Government's policy of economic sanctions against Rhodesia.

Mr. Bottomley

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave in the House on Tuesday, 25th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Rowland). Since then, as the hon. Member is doubtless aware, the President of the Board of Trade has announced a total trade embargo, on both imports and exports, between the United Kingdom and Rhodesia. These further measures will increase the already severe damage done to the Rhodesian economy as a result of our sanctions.