HC Deb 01 June 1967 vol 747 cc60-2W
56. Mr. Rose

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with the political effect upon Rhodesia of the present level of sanctions; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. George Thomas

Sanctions are making an increasingly effective impact on the Rhodesian economy; but they have not as yet achieved the object of our policy, which is to secure a return to constitutional rule. They will be pressed home until that object is achieved.

Mr. Sandys

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how much revenue from taxation has been lost as a result of the withholding of interest payments to holders in Great Britain of Rhodesia Government Stock.

Mr. George Thomas

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has made representations to the Federal German Government concerning the 62 per cent. increase in German exports to Rhodesia during the first two months of 1967 compared with the first two months of 1966, and with what result;

(2) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has made representations to the Swiss Government concerning the 107 per cent. increase in Swiss imports from Rhodesia during the first two months of this year compared with the corresponding period of 1966, and with what result;

(3) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards trade with Rhodesia, he has investigated the extent to which the 60 per cent. increase in exports from the European Economic Community to South Africa in January 1967 compared with January 1966 resulted from an increase in South African entrepot trade in goods destined for Rhodesia, and with what result;

(4) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards trade with Rhodesia, he has investigated the extent to which the 79 per cent. increase in Italian exports to South Africa in January, 1967, compared with January, 1966, resulted from an increase in South African entrepôt trade in goods destined for Rhodesia, and with what result;

(5) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards trade with Rhodesia, he has investigated the extent to which the 63 per cent. increase in Japanese trade with South Africa in the first two months of 1967 compared with the corresponding period of 1966 resulted from an increase in South African entrepôt trade in goods to and from Rhodesia, and with what result;

(6) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy towards trade with Rhodesia, he has investigated the extent to which the 35 per cent. increase in West German exports to South Africa in the first two months of this year compared with the corresponding period of 1966 resulted from an increase in South African entrepôt trade in goods destined for Rhodesia, and with what result;

(7) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has made representations to the Japanese Government regarding the 62 per cent. increase in Japanese exports to Rhodesia in the first two months of this year compared with the first two months of 1966, and with what result;

(8) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has made representations to the French Government concerning the 222 per cent. increase in French exports to Rhodesia in the first two months of 1967 compared with the first two months of 1966, and with what result;

(9) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has made representations to the Netherlands Government concerning the 24 per cent. increase in Dutch exports to Rhodesia during the first two months of this year compared with the corresponding period of 1966, and with what result;

(10) whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding trade with Rhodesia, he has noted the 46 per cent. increase in other European Free trade Association countries' exports to Rhodesia in the first two months of this year compared with the corresponding period of 1966; and what representations he has made to other European Free Trade Association Governments about this matter.

Mr. George Thomas

I keep a very close watch on the statistics of trade with Southern Africa and I can assure the House that the means whereby sanctions against Rhodesia can be made more effective are constantly under review. The question of any representations to foreign governments, of course, is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.