§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards entertaining politicians and officials from the "homelands" of South Africa; how many such visits have taken place in the last two years; from which "homeland"; and if any such visits are now taking place under the auspices of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the British Council.
§ Mr. RifkindOur policy is to have contact with politicians and officials of the non-independent homelands, though not with those from the so-called "independent" homelands which we do not recognise. In the last two years my Department has received five visitors from the non-independent homelands of Kwazulu and Lebowa, of whom one was officially sponsored. Two officials from Kwazulu and now on a Foreign and Commonwealth Office sponsored visit, and the Lebowa Secretary for Education is currently here under the auspices of the British Council.