HC Deb 18 December 1985 vol 89 cc194-6W
27. Mr. Michie

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European Economic Community will next consider its policy towards South Africa.

57. Mr. Tom Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European Economic Community Council will next consider its policy towards South Africa.

105. Mr. Torney

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European Economic Community Council of Ministers will next consider relations with South Africa.

Mr. Rifkind

The Council of Ministers has no plans to consider policy towards South Africa in the near future.

30. Mr. Nellist

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's recent relations with South Africa.

86. Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current relations between the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the implications for relations between the United Kingdom and South Africa of the latest situation in South Africa.

Mr. Rifkind

The South African Government are fully aware of our deep concern at the internal situation in South Africa. We shall continue to use our contacts with the South African Government to press for fundamental reforms and to urge on them the need for the widest possible dialogue about the political future of South Africa.

34. Mr. Caborn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European Economic Community Council will next consider sanctions on South Africa.

Mr. Rifkind

There is no current proposal that the Council should consider sanctions against South Africa.

58. Mr. Ian Lloyd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the criteria employed by his Department to distinguish between scientific agreements between the United Kingdom and South Africa which do, and those which do not, support apartheid; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind

Scientific agreements with South Africa will be considered on a case-by-case basis in the light of all available information.

61. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will reconsider Her Majesty's Government's policy of refusing to meet representatives from dissident groups from South Africa including exiled organisations except under certain preconditions.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

We are ready to meet representatives from any South African group working for peaceful change. We believe that the support of dissident groups for a suspension of violence as called for in the Commonwealth Accord would help to promote dialogue within South Africa and with others, like ourselves, who seek a peaceful solution to that country's problems.

76. Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the conclusions of, and results obtained from, the measures taken by Ministers of the European Economic Community, acting in political co-operation, concerning sanctions against South Africa.

Mr. Rifkind

In September Ministers of the Twelve agreed to implement a number of positive and restrictive measures in relation to South Africa. We believe that these measures have sent a clear political signal to the South African Government of the need for urgent and fundamental reform.

77. Mr. John Carlisle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy with regard to the attendance by members of the staff of Her Majesty's embassy in South Africa of the funerals of victims of the current unrest; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind

Members of the staff of Her Majesty's embassy in South Africa will attend funerals and other occasions in their official capacity where representation is felt to be appropriate. Each case is considered on its merits.

91. Mr. Simon Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on progress of sanctions agreed at the Nassau Commonwealth conference.

Mr. Rifkind

The majority of the measures agreed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October have been in effect in Britain for some time. We have implemented, or are considering ways of implementing, the further measures agreed at Nassau.

99. Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the specific impact on black employment in South Africa and the surrounding countries of the imposition of full economic sanctions on South Africa.

Mr. Rifkind

We have not carried out a detailed' assessment but the work which we and others have done on the subject leaves us in no doubt that full economic sanctions would have a very serious effect on black employment both in South Africa and the surrounding countries.