HC Deb 17 February 1984 vol 54 c344W
Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards entertaining politicians and officials from the "homelands" of South Africa; how many such visits have taken place in the last two years; from which "homeland"; and if any such visits are now taking place under the auspices of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the British Council.

Mr. Rifkind

Our policy is to have contact with politicians and officials of the non-independent homelands, though not with those from the so-called "independent" homelands which we do not recognise. In the last two years my Department has received five visitors from the non-independent homelands of Kwazulu and Lebowa, of whom one was officially sponsored. Two officials from Kwazulu and now on a Foreign and Commonwealth Office sponsored visit, and the Lebowa Secretary for Education is currently here under the auspices of the British Council.