HC Deb 24 April 1985 vol 77 cc435-6W
4. Mr. Clay

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take action to close all the loopholes in the United Nations mandatory arms embargo in South Africa.

Mr. Rifkind

We believe that the United Nations arms embargo is effective. We are not aware that any further measures are required to strengthen it.

18. Mr. Caborn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the call by the Commonwealth Secretary General of 22 February for sanctions against South Africa.

Mr. Rifkind

We do not believe that wider economic sanctions would achieve the changes we want to see. If they were effective they would hurt the black community and South Africa's neighbours, including Commonwealth countries. Trade and investment links are an important means of encouraging change.

29. Mr. Wallace

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government propose to take any action in the United Nations in the light of recent events in South Africa.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

We condemned the recent action by the South African police at Uitenhage and have repeatedly made our views about such violence known to the South African Government. We also supported the adoption of Security Council resolution 560 which expressed in strong terms the views of the international community on apartheid and on recent events in South Africa.

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