HC Deb 04 May 1970 vol 801 cc1-3W
7. Mr. Hastings

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a further statement on Rhodesia.

Mr. M. Stewart:

I have nothing to add to my Answers to Questions by the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) and other hon. Members on 2nd March and to my Answer to a Private Notice Question by the right hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys) on 19th March. —[Vol. 797, c. 11–19; Vol. 798, c. 615–22.]

42. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what review he has made of the policy of sanctions against Rhodesia since the declaration of a republic; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. M. Stewart:

Measures to make sanctions more effective are constantly under review, in consultation, as appropriate, with the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee and the United Nations Sanctions Supervisory Committee.

62. Mr. Biggs-Davison

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to governments whose nationals are manufacturing or assembling motor cars in Rhodesia; which are the governments in question; and what action they have taken in conformity with their obligations under the United Nations Charter.

Mr. Foley:

The United States Mission to the United Nations drew the attention of the United Nations Sanctions Supervisory Committee to the assembly of foreign motor vehicles in Southern Rhodesia in March, 1969. A summary of this report was included in the Second Report of the United Nations Sanctions Supervisory Committee, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. In accordance with the special obligation imposed on the United Kingdom Government by Paragraph 21 of Security Council Resolution No. 253 (1968), the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations has submitted five further reports to the Committee regarding the activities of certain of the foreign firms referred to in the United States note. These reports are confidential until the Committee publishes its Third Report which is likely to appear shortly.

Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many African citizens are known to be under sentence of death in Rhodesia; and what steps are being taken to prevent these sentences from being carried out by an illegal régime.

Mr. Foley:

We do not know the number of Africans at present under sentence of death in Southern Rhodesia. So far as I am aware no death sentences have been carried out since March. 1968. Any executions in Rhodesia in present circumstances would be illegal, but we are not of course in a position to prevent them from being carried out.

Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on international trading by member countries of the United Nations with Rhodesia following closure of the consulates in Salisbury; and what further instructions he has now given Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations in this matter.

Mr. M. Stewart:

The hon. Member would appear to be suggesting that the consular offices which have been closed down recently in Salisbury were facilitating sanctions-breaking trade. I have no evidence to support such an allegation. The second part of the hon. Member's Question does not therefore arise.

Mr. Molloy

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement regarding recent developments in Rhodesia.

Mr. M. Stewart:

I would refer to my Answers to Questions by the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) and other hon. Members on 2nd March and to my Answer to a Private Notice Question by the hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys) on 19th March. I have nothing to add.