§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Prime Minister whether the version of the text of the new code of conduct for European firms operating in South Africa agreed on 19 November 1985 which was issued by other EEC Governments contained the same misquotation as the version issued by Her Majesty's Government; on what date Her Majesty's Government first discovered this error; which Departments issued the document containing the misquotation; what steps have been taken to trace the incorrect copies and to replace them with corrected versions; whether any copies containing the misquotation have been issued to companies trading in South Africa; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government have no information yet on measures taken by other EC Governments to implement the revised EC code of conduct for European companies with interests in South Africa. Following discovery earlier this year of a misquotation of the text of the 1977 code in a footnote to the revised code issued by the EC Presidency last November, informal guidance on the new code to which reports due after 30 June will relate was issued on 20 June to United Kingdom companies falling within its scope. A White Paper will be issued in due course.