§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of the EEC code of conduct for European firms operating in South Africa, he will ask the managing director of Ever Ready to give details of the pay of coloured women workers 91W in the Port Elizabeth plant and calculate how this rate compares with the official minimum subsistence level.
§ Mr. Rowlands:The report submitted. by the United Kingdom parent company, the BEREC Group Limited, earlier this year under the new superseded United Kingdom code of practice for companies with interests in South Africa provides information on earnings and is currently being studied together with other reports made in 1978 by United Kingdom companies under that code and the code of conduct of the Nine. The study will include a comparison of wage levels with published South African datum levels.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of the EEC Code of Conduct for European firms operating in South Africa, he will discuss with the chairman of Ever Ready the refusal of the company to recognise and negotiate with the members of the National Union of Motor Assembly and Rubber Workers in the Port Elizabeth plant.
§ Mr. Rowlands:The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is in contact with the United Kingdom parent company, the BEREC Group Limited. At the present time it appears to be the intention of the company to respond to a request for a resumption of discussions in Port Elizabeth and we shall be awaiting their outcome, before considering what further action is necessary.