§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions, and in relation to which cases, Her Majesty's Government have reported details of breaches of the United Nations mandatory arms embago of South Africa to the United Nations Security Council committee on the arms embargo established by resolution 421 of 1977.
§ Mr. RentonThere is no requirement to report such breaches to the United Nations Security Council committee on the arms embargo, but where the committee 647W has asked for information we have always endeavoured to meet its requests. For example, we kept the committee fully informed of the Coventry case in 1984–85.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has discussed with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany plans for the manufacture of submarines supplied from the Federal Republic of Germany to South Africa in breach of the United Nations mandatory arms embargo; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonIt is not our practice to take up with other Governments allegations of breaches of the arms embargo. In accordance with accepted procedures, the matter is currently the subject of correspondence between the chairman of the Security Council committee established under Security Council resolution 421 (1977) and the Federal German Government.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to which members of the United Nations Security Council, other than the United Kingdom, expressed reservations or qualifications in relation to United Nations Security Council resolution 591 of 1986.
§ Mr. RentonNone expressed reservations or qualifications. In his statement following the adoption by consensus of Security Council resolution 591 the United States representative noted that the arms embargo was essentially directed at the South African military and police a point also made by the United Kingdom representative.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have reported to the United Nations Secretary-General on action taken to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 591 of 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonNo new action is necessary in the United Kingdom to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 591.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the qualifications expressed by Her Majesty's Government in relation to the United Nations Security Council resolution 591 of 1986.
§ Mr. RentonThe United Kingdom representative expressed British support for Security Council resolution 591 which we saw as a clarification of Security Council resolution 418. He noted that certain paragraphs should not be interpreted as restricting trade in items intended for non-military purposes, and placed the obligation with regard to military co-operation within the context of the Luxembourg and Nassau comminqués of September and October 1985. He also reiterated our view that peaceful means must be used to bring about an end to apartheid.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the statement of the United Kingdom ambassador to the United Nations made following the vote adopting United Nations Security Council resolution 591 of 1986.
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§ Mr. RentonIn view of its length, I am arranging for copies of the statement in question to be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.