§ Mr. Blairasked the Attorney-General how many legal aid certificates were granted and accepted for (a) plaintiffs and (b) defendants in respect of actions for negligence against solicitors in the Queen's Bench Division or county court in 1981–82 and 1982–83.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe numbers are as follows:
publication date of the next analysis and summary of companies' reports submitted in connection with the code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa.
§ Mr. ChannonI expect to submit the next analysis and summary to Parliament before the Easter recess.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if he will list the names of those companies which have been asked, or will be asked, to provide submissions in connection with the next analysis and summary of companies' reports submitted in connection with the code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa.
§ Mr. ChannonNo. The names of those companies which have submitted reports under the code and of those believed to have a responsibility to report as a category A company are all listed in the annual analysis and summary submitted to Parliament.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the operation of the code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa.
§ Mr. ChannonYes.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he takes to ensure that the information provided by companies in submissions requested in connection with the code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa is accurate.
§ Mr. ChannonReports are examined carefully and where appropriate discussed with companies in both the United Kingdom and South Africa.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will consider taking action against companies which refuse to provide information when requested to provide submissions in connection with the code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa.
563W
§ Mr. ChannonNo. Compliance with the code of conduct is voluntary.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether representations have been made to those companies which have in the past failed to provide information in response to his request for submissions in connection with the code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa; and whether their response to any representations has been satisfactory.
§ Mr. ChannonYes. Some companies have subsequently submitted reports; others have given assurances about the conditions of employment of their black workers.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will consider measures to require the co-operation of British companies with interests in South Africa when he calls for submissions in connection with the code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa; and whether he will consider measures to ensure that British companies with interests in South Africa meet the guidelines set out in the code of conduct.
§ Mr. ChannonNo. The code of conduct is voluntary, and the vast majority of British companies already comply, and endeavour to meet the guidelines.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will bring all British companies with interests in South Africa within the terms of the code of conduct and request information from them all.
§ Mr. ChannonThe code already applies to all British companies with interests in South Africa. I do not intend to change existing reporting practice.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will call upon companies presently designated category B to follow the detailed reporting format sent to category A companies when requesting submissions in connection with the code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa.
§ Mr. ChannonNo. A minority shareholder cannot insist on the submission of detailed reports by his South African affiliate.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the European Economic Community member states last reviewed the operation of the code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa adopted by their Governments on 20 September 1977; and what conclusions were reached after such reviews.
§ Mr. ChannonForeign Ministers last considered the operation of the code of conduct on 25 April 1983. Their conclusions were reported to the European Parliament on 3 June 1983—document reference PE 85.247, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what conclusions were reached in discussions held with other member states of the European Community with a view to strengthening the code of conduct for companies with interests in South Africa.
§ Mr. ChannonThe member states of the European Community have not considered it necessary to modify the code of conduct.