HC Deb 23 March 1967 vol 743 cc336-7W
Mr. Whitaker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make it a condition of Great Britain's defence support for any ruler in Muscat, Oman, Qatar, the Trucial States, the Persian Gulf and South Arabia, that he does not practise or permit slavery in his territory.

Mr. William Rodgers

In all those States of the Persian Gulf to which Her Majesty's Government have defence commitments, proclamations have been issued abolishing slavery and prohibiting traffic in slaves. South Arabia is dealt with in the Answer to my hon. Friend's following Question.

Mr. Whitaker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will invoke his right to give mandatory advice under the treaty of 1959, to instruct the sheikhs and emirs in South Arabia forthwith to end the practice of slavery in their territories.

Mr. William Rodgers

Slavery is no longer practised in South Arabia.