§ 15. Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on actions taken to implement the decision of the Commonwealth review meeting in August and the European Economic Community Foreign Ministers' meeting in September relating to South Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe have fully implemented the measures which were undertaken at the Commonwealth Heads of Government review meeting in London in August and those which were agreed by the Twelve in Brussels on 16 September.
§ 19. Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to secure the right of the British media to report on the situation in South Africa in light of the impediments imposed by censorship.
§ 26. Mr. Bidwellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of South Africa about the recently imposed controls over the media in that country.
§ Mrs. ChalkerHer Majesty's ambassador at Pretoria made representations to the South African Government on 19 December on behalf of the Twelve to express our strong concern at the draconian new restrictions on the media in South Africa.
§ 20. Mr. Easthamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of the decision by Barclay's Bank to pull out of South Africa, Her Majesty's Government will now revise their policy on South Africa with a view to encouraging other banks and companies to disinvest from South Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerNo. We will not seek to encourage British companies to disinvest from South Africa. Such decisions must be entirely a commercial matter for the companies concerned.
§ 25. Dr. Brayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in consultation with our European Economic Community partners on securing a ban on coal imports from South Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIn line with the statement by Ministers in European Political Co-operation on 15 September 1986 it rests with the presidency of the day to work for consensus on this issue.
§ 34. Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have 688W been made in the last six months by Her Majesty's Government to secure the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners in South Africa and Namibia and to prevent the implementation of the death sentences imposed on Mojalefa Reginald Sefatsa, Reid Malebo Mokoena, Oupo Moses Diniso, Theresa Ramashamola, Duma Joshua Khumalo and Francis Don Mokhesi.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWith the Commonwealth and our European partners we have long called for the unconditional release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners. We reiterated our call time and again during the period in question. The appeals of the "Sharpeville Six" have not yet been heard; it would therefore be inappropriate for us to make representations at this moment.
§ 35. Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy toward the implementation of the 16 recommendations of the United Nations Security Council regarding the United Nations mandatory arms embargo on South Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerSecurity Council resolution 591 of 28 November 1986, which was adopted by consensus, took account of these recommendations.
§ 37. Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has yet received any official information from the Pretoria authorities concerning the appointment of a new ambassador in the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. ChalkerOn 5 February the South African Government announced the appointment of Mr. Rae Killen as ambassador to the Court of St. James in succession to Dr. Denis Worrall.
§ 39. Mr. Michieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made on the recent South African raids into Angola.
§ 56. Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of South Africa about that country's continued incursions into Angola.
§ Mrs. ChalkerOur condemnation of cross-border raids is well known to the South African Government. In October 1986, we joined our partners in the Twelve in urging South Africa to exercise restraint and to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of her neighbours. We continue to take opportunities to make known our concern.
§ 41. Mr. Livseyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet representatives of the South African Government to discuss United Kingdom-South African relations.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy right hon. and learned Friend met the South African ambassador on 9 February.
§ 65. Mr. Hunterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contact he has with black South African representatives of organisations other than the African National Congress; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mrs. ChalkerWe maintain contact with a wide cross-section of black South African opinion. For example, during his presidency mission to South Africa last July my right hon. and learned Friend met the Chief Ministers of KaNgwane and KwaZulu as well as leading black businessmen.
§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Anglo-South African relations.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAs I told my hon. Friend on 21 January, relations with South Africa remain overshadowed by the issue of apartheid. We shall continue to work for the early and peaceful replacement of apartheid by a non-racial, representative system of government in South Africa.