HC Deb 09 July 1986 vol 101 cc198-202W
14. Mr. Stan Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European Economic Community Council will next discuss action against South Africa to remove apartheid.

Mrs. Chalker

As I told the hon. Member for Warrington, North (Mr. Hoyle), Foreign Ministers of the Twelve regularly discuss the situation in South Africa, most recently in The Hague on 26 and 27 June. They are expected to do so again later this month.

20. Mr. Michie

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of European Economic Community political co-operation on events in South Africa.

27. Mr. Ashton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effective measures have now been taken by European Economic Community member states against South Africa.

Mrs. Chalker

The policy of the Twelve towards South Africa, as set out in the agreement adopted at Luxembourg on 10 September 1985, the EC/Front Line States joint communiqué adopted in Lusaka on 4 February and, most recently, the agreement reached at the meeting of the European Council in The Hague on 27 June, is designed to hasten the process of peaceful reform and to encourage the South African Government to begin a dialogue with genuine representatives of the black population. We believe that the position of the Twelve is a factor which the South African Government have to take into account.

21. Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action against South Africa was agreed by the European Economic Community at the end of June; and if he will make a statement.

22. Mr. Ron Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have so far been agreed by European Economic Community member states against South Africa; and what further action is to be taken.

32. Mr. Torney

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken by the European Economic Community Council in view of the situation in South Africa; and what further measures are proposed.

38. Mr. Park

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will propose at the next European Economic Community Council further measures against South Africa.

74. Mr. Eadie

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures are to be taken by European Economic Community member states against South Africa.

80. Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures are to be taken by the European Economic Community member states against South Africa as a result of the meeting at the end of June.

Mrs. Chalker

I refer the hon. Members to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 1 July.

23. Mr. Simon Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from British financial institutions on the desirability or otherwise of financial sanctions on South Africa.

Mrs. Chalker

Like many other organisations and individuals, representatives of financial institutions continue to make known to us their views on the question of measures against South Africa.

28. Mr. Yeo

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations with South Africa.

68. Mr. Hirst

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

Mrs. Chalker

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply that I gave earlier today to the right hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen (Mr. Mackenzie).

33. Mr. Frank Cook

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the South African Government on the recent passing of legislation which gives the security forces the power to detain people for 180 days without trial.

54. Mr. Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the most recent Government representations to the South African Government.

60. Mr. Nellist

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have made on the situation in South Africa.

71. Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has taken any steps to persuade the South African Government to end the state of emergency.

Mrs. Chalker

On 25 June we made representations to the South African Government in Pretoria and London expressing deep concern at the restrictions imposed under the State of Emergency and at the detention without charge of community, church and trade union leaders. The Netherlands Government, acting on behalf of the Twelve, made a similar demarche to the South African authorities on 13 June.

35. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans to make an official visit to South Africa.

91. Mr. Willie W. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans to seek to make an official visit to South Africa.

Mrs. Chalker

My right hon. and learned Friend is currently visiting Southern Africa in accordance with the mission entrusted to him at the recent European Council meeting at the Hague.

39. Mr. Allen Adams

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his officials have met the Archbishop of Canterbury's envoy, Mr. Terry Waite, to obtain his views on the crisis in South Africa following his recent visit there.

Mrs. Chalker

Mr. Waite called on my right hon. and learned Friend and me on his return from South Africa to discuss his impressions of the visit.

40. Mr. Ray Powell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European Economic Community Council will next discuss the situation in South Africa.

69. Mr. Buchan

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the European Heads of Government at their recent meeting supported mandatory economic sanctions.

79. Mr. Weetch

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many European Economic Community member states are now in favour of economic measures against South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

81. Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent consultations he has had with other European Community Foreign Ministers concerning their and the Community's policies towards South Africa.

Mr. Lofthouse

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which European Economic Community member states now support Her Majesty's Government's opposition to economic sanctions against South Africa; and what further action the European Economic Community Council intends to take.

Mrs. Chalker

I refer the hon. Members to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Warrington, North (Mr. Hoyle).

43. Mr. Dixon

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to coordinate action against South Africa by the European Economic Community Council and the Commonwealth.

Mrs. Chalker

In view of our unique position as member of both the European Community and the Commonwealth, we naturally have in mind views expressed in one forum when policy towards South Africa is discussed in the other.

44. Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the operation of the European Economic Community Ministers' code of conduct of European firms operating in South Africa.

Mrs. Chalker

The Government attach great importance to the EC code of conduct, which was revised and strengthened by European Governments last year. Individual member states are responsible for encouraging adherence to the code by their national companies. We are satisfied that the vast majority of British companies comply with the requirements of the code.

49. Mr. Fatchett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration Her Majesty's Government have given to trade which the United Kingdom could lose with Nigeria and the other African nations if sanctions against South Africa are not introduced.

Mrs. Chalker

In framing policy towards South Africa we are giving due consideration to all factors.

51. Mr. Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government have had with the front-line states concerning sanctions against South Africa.

Mrs. Chalker

My right hon. and learned Friend attended the meeting between the Twelve and the front-line states in Lusaka from 3 to 4 February at which there was agreement on the importance of the measures which had been adopted at Luxembourg by the European Community states. Since then the Government have continued to consult closely with the front-line states, in particular during my recent visits to Africa and as the hon. Member will by now be aware, my right hon. and learned Friend is currently discussing the South African issue with the Government's of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

78. Mr. Anderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contacts he has had with the Government of South Africa.

Mrs. Chalker

We have had continuing contacts with the Government of South Africa, most recently in connection with my right hon. and learned Friend's intention to visit that country to carry out the mandate given him by the European Council.

93. Sir John Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the progress he expects to be made before Her Majesty's Government will relax or withdraw measures which have been taken against South Africa.

Mrs. Chalker

As I have made clear on many occasions, our objective is to encourage dialogue between the South African Government and acknowleged opposition leaders in the context of a suspension of violence. The steps we might take to help this process are under constant review.

11. Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has reveived advocating the use of economic sanctions against South Africa.

70. Mr. Flannery

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations asking for sanctions against South Africa he has received since May; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

I refer the hon. Members to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick).