South Africa (Hansard, 31 March 1987)

§ Mr. Alan Clark

By 13 March 1987, 160 companies had submitted reports to the Department under the code of conduct. Copies of the reports, and of the Department's analysis and summary have, as in previous years. been placed in the Library of each House. These documents may also be inspected at the Department's library, at the British embassy in Pretoria, at the British consulate-general in Johannesburg, and at the British consulates in Cape Town and Durban.

The analysis and summary is the first since the introduction of the revised code of conduct was adopted by EC Foreign Ministers in November 1985. Reports were received from the overwhelming majority of British companies with interests in South Africa. Of those companies whose interests are known or believed technically to warrant a full report under the code, only two declined to submit returns. One of these has already sold its interests and the other intends to do so. In some respects the period was a transitional one, in that not all reports received were in the revised format and the restructuring of the code impairs comparison in many sections with previous years' reports.

The reporting period was again characterised by continued economic recession in which wage rates throughout the South African economy generally failed to keep pace with consumer price inflation. Against this background, the performance of British subsidiaries in reducing substantially the number of their black employees paid below the supplemented living level is notable. Over 96 per cent. are now paid above that level. There were indications of a growing commitment to education and community projects too.

The Government are grateful to companies for their continued efforts in reporting and urges them to comply fully with the code.