§ Mr. Proctorasked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the present level of trade with Bophuthatswana; whether he has had any meetings with 270W members of Bophuthatswana's new trade delegation to London; and if he has plans to improve trading links with Bophuthatswana
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to the reply, 22 October 1982]: Neither the British Government nor any other Government recognises the "independent" homelands within South Africa's borders as sovereign States. Hence, no separate statistics exist on the present level of trade with the territory. I assume my hon. Friend's reference to Bophuthatswana's trade delegation refers to "Bophuthatswana House" which opened in London on 7 September 1982. This establishment has no official or diplomatic status and there has been no Ministerial or official contact; nor is any envisaged. The British Overseas Trade Board's services to exporters are available anywhere within South Africa on the same basis as to other overseas markets, and no additional action is contemplated.