§ 29. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will take action to prevent the British Lions rugby team playing in Rhodesia which would lend aid and comfort to an illegal régime.
§ Mr. George ThomsonHer Majesty's Government have made it clear to those responsible for organising the match in Rhodesia that there are very good reasons why representative teams from Britain should not play there at this time. We still hope that the Lions will reconsider their decision.
§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many police constables there are per head of the population in Rhodesia.
§ Mr. George ThomasFigures for the current parade strength of police forces are not published by the illegal regime in Rhodesia. Budgetary provisions suggest that the full-time, uniformed police force may at present number something over 8,400. This does not include reservists, who could bring the total strength to more than 45,000.
The population of Rhodesia was estimated in June, 1965, to be approximately 4,260,000.
It seems likely, therefore, that including reservists there is approximately one policeman to each 100 members of the population in Rhodesia.
§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to which countries are at present violating sanctions against the Rhodesian régime.
§ Mr. George ThomasI am aware of the recent statement in the Annual Report of the Secretary General of the United Nations that certain countries are not complying with Security Council Resolution No. 232. A copy of the Secretary General's Annual Report, together with the reports which he has published on the implementation of the Resolution, have been placed in the Library.
406WI do not wish to reveal to the régime the extent of our own knowledge of their complicated and expensive attempts to evade sanctions, but where we have evidence that an attempt is being made to evade sanctions, we draw this to the attention of the Government concerned.
§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking over Malawi's violation of sanctions against the illegal Rhodesian régime by the provision of false trade documents.
§ Mr. George ThomasI am not aware that the Malawi Government or its authorities have assisted in the evasion of mandatory sanctions by issuing false certificates of origin.
§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what in= formation he has as to whether South African troops or police have recently entered the British territory of Rhodesia; and what action he is taking.
§ Mr. George ThomsonAs the House will know the South African Government announced on 8th September that their police were active in Rhodesia. The British Government subsequently protested to the South African Government at this incursion into British territory.
§ Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the situation in Rhodesia.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI have nothing to add to the reply already made by the Prime Minister today.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what has been the result of Her Majesty's Government's representations to countries which have increased their trade with, and have not fully applied mandatory sanctions against, Rhodesia; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. George ThomasI am not aware of any Commonwealth country which has increased its trade with Rhodesia since mandatory sanctions were imposed. A number of Rhodesia's African Commonwealth neighbours, because of their economic dependence on continued trade 407W with Rhodesia, have not been able fully to implement mandatory sanctions and have so informed the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Any questions in regard to representations which Her Majesty's Government may have made to foreign Governments which have increased their trade with, and have not fully implemented mandatory sanctions against Rhodesia are, of course, a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had recently with other Commonwealth Governments on the Rhodesian situation and particularly on the effect of sanctions; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what new proposals he has for increasing the effectiveness of sanctions against Rhodesia.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI have nothing to add to the reply which I gave yesterday to the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker).
§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what study he has given to the extent to which the 31 per cent. increase in exports from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development member countries to South Africa during the first five months of this year included goods destined for Rhodesia; and with what results.
§ Mr. George ThomasI have studied these figures with interest and I am satisfied that the increase in South Africa's imports is due mainly to the relaxation in December, 1966 by the South African Government of their import controls.