§ Mr. Lathamasked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether there have been any changes in policy towards South African investments by the Commissioners since his predecessor's reply to the hon. Member for Melton on 5 March 1979, Official Report, c. 400; and, if so, to what effect.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeThere have been no changes in the Church Commissioners' investment policy in relation to South Africa since my predecessor's reply to the hon. Member in March 1979, but the application of their policy continues to be reviewed regularly, in the light not least of the Commissioners' statutory responsibilities and taking carefully into account expressions of Church and other relevant opinion.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Commissioners will use their influence as institutional shareholders to induce British companies operating in South Africa to pay fair wage levels to black African workers and, so far as possible within South African laws, to adopt non-discriminatory work practices and to offer equal opportunities for promotion.
§ Sir William van StraubenzeeIn so far as the Commissioners hold shares in companies which have interests in South Africa, they have for some years, on the basis of the policy which my predecessor outlined to the hon. Member in March 1979, encouraged those companies to adopt enlightened employment policies in respect of their black African employees in accordance with the EEC code of conduct.