§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will terminate the no-visa agreement with South Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe have no present plans to institute a visa requirement for South Africans entering the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to withdraw his reservations on the recommendations adopted by the United Nations Security Council Committee established under United Nations Security Council resolution 421 of 1977, designed to close existing loopholes in the United Nations mandatory arms embargo on South Africa and seek their adoption by the United Nations Security Council.
§ Mrs. ChalkerOur position was recorded in paragraph 82 of the report (S-14179) of the United Nations Security Council committee to which the hon. Member refers. This position has not changed.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with Mr. Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe;
(2) if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with President Kaunda of Zambia.
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§ Mrs. ChalkerMy right hon. and learned Friend's meetings with Presidents Kaunda and Machel and with Prime Minister Mugabe provided an opportunity to explain the commitment of the 12 EC Governments to working for a genuine negotiated settlement in South Africa. My right hon. and learned Friend believes that these discussions increased understanding for his mission and were particularly valuable in preparation for his talks in South Africa next week.
§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he had with Mr. Shevardnadze about southern Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy right hon. and learned Friend gave Mr. Shevardnadze an account of his mission to southern Africa in his capacity as President of the European Council. He made clear to Mr. Shevardnadze our view that the aim should be to persuade the South African Government to create the conditions in which an end to apartheid can be brought about through peaceful negotiations. In order to create these conditions we have impressed on the South African Government the need to release black political leaders and end the ban on black political parties.
§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency plans have been made with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in case of sanctions against South Africa for the replacement of those minerals currently imported from South Africa indispensable to the United Kingdom economy.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe have no such plans.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the controls which exist, to enforce the embargo on the imports of arms, ammunition, military vehicles and paramilitary equipment from South Africa, as agreed in the Commonwealth accord on southern Africa adopted on 20 October 1985.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkI have been asked to reply.
Under powers provided by the Import of Goods (Control) Order 1954 applications have to be made for specific import licences for any imports of arms or ammunition from South Africa. No arms, ammunition, military vehicles or paramilitary equipment are procured from South Africa for the armed forces.
§ Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if there are any controls over the provision by South Africa of licences for the manufacture of military or paramilitary equipment in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkI have been asked to reply. No.