HC Deb 31 January 1994 vol 236 cc554-5W
Mr. Robert Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the British military personnel who have undertaken official visits to South Africa in each year since 1990.

Mr. Hanley

Since 1990, British Ministry of Defence personnel have made official visits to the South African authorities on three occasions as follows:

  • October 1993
  • 1 Assistant Under-Secretary of State, 1 Assistant Secretary and 1 Principal (all civilian members of the MOD)
  • December 1993
  • 1 Brigadier
  • January 1994
  • 1 Rear Admiral, 1 Commander and 1 Principal (MOD civilian)

Mr. Robert Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the forthcoming visit of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Norfolk to South Africa from 27 to 31 January; and if the Transitional Executive Council of South Africa or the European Union were consulted over arrangements for the visit.

Mr. Hanley

HMS Norfolk, accompanied by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Grey Rover, is visiting South Africa from 27 January to 1 February. The purpose of the visit was to re-establish relations between the Royal Navy and the South African navy. The Transitional Executive Council and our European Union partners were fully aware of the visit and raised no objections. The visit has been welcomed by a broad range of opinion in South Africa.

Mr. Robert Hughes

To ask the Secretaryof State for Defence if he will make a statement on the appointment of the British military attaché to the Republic of South Africa; what are his functions, responsibilities and activities; and how these are restricted by the European Union's criteria for the relaxation on the exchange of military attachés with South Africa.

Mr. Hanley

The' British defence attaché in Pretoria took up his post on 22 November 1993. His primary role is to establish contacts with the defence forces of the new South Africa and to advise Her Majesty's ambassador on defence issues. European Union sanctions concerning the exchange of attachés were lifted on 4 October 1993.

Mr. Robert Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all South African defence force personnel who have made official visits to the United Kingdom in each year since 1990.

Mr. Hanley

Since 1990, South African defence force personnel have made official visits to the United Kingdom at the invitation of the Government as follows: May 1993—the Chief of the South African navy and the ship's company of the Drakensberg, a South African naval support vessel, to take part in ceremonies to mark the Battle of the Atlantic. July 1993—the South African Chief of Air Staff to attend celebrations marking the 75th annniversary of the RAF.

Special exceptions to the embargo on defence contacts then in force were made in view of the particular historical circumstances of both visits.

Mr. Robert Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list(a) all visits by British military personnel to South Africa and (b) all visits by South African defence force personnel to the United Kingdom expected between 1 February and 27 April.

Mr. Hanley

On current plans, official visits by British Ministry of Defence personnel at the invitation of the South African authorities in the period between 1 February and 27 April will take place as followsEarly February—1 Brigadier, 1 Lieutenant Colonel and 1 Principal (MOD civilian)

No visits to the United Kingdom by South African defence force personnel in that period are currently planned.