§ 20. Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of his policies designed to bring about an end to apartheid in South Africa.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweGovernment policy is to promote the total abolition of apartheid. During my presidency mission to Southern Africa I argued the case for fundamental but peaceful change, and for genuine dialogue between the South African Government and freely chosen leaders of the black community. Prime responsibility for instituting change and for creating conditions in which dialogue can take place lies with the South African Government.
§ 24. Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many economic measures have been taken against South Africa by the European Economic Community; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe twelve member states of the European Community have taken a range of economic measures—some positive, some restrictive—designed to impress on the South African Government the urgent need for fundamental but peaceful change. We are disappointed that the South African Government have so far failed to166W take the steps towards genuine national dialogue which have been urged on them by the Twelve, but they can be in no doubt of the Twelve's determination to see an end to apartheid.
§ 25. Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Anglo-South African relations.
§ 36. Mr. Yeoasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations with South Africa.
§ 47. Mr. Andrew MacKayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's current relations with South Africa.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweOur relations with South Africa are overshadowed by the issue of apartheid. We continue to seek an early end to apartheid in South Africa and its peaceful replacement by a non-racial, representative system of government.
§ 28. Mr. Heathcoat-Amoryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has recently met representatives of the Inkatha Movement from South Africa.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI had talks with Chief Buthelezi when I visited South Africa in July.
§ 30. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he plans to visit South Africa again during his presidency of the European Economic Community Council.
§ 45. Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit the Republic of South Africa.
§ 74. Mr. Torneyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to visit South Africa again during his term as President of the European Economic Community Council.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweI have no plans for such a visit.
§ 34. Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has had with representatives of Commonwealth and European Community countries to discuss South Africa since the beginning of the summer Adjournment.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThere have been a number of such meetings, notably the Commonwealth Heads of Government review meeting on 3 to 5 August and meetings of Foreign Ministers of the Twelve on 15 to 16 September and 27 October.
§ 35. Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European Economic Community Council will next consider the effectiveness of its economic measures against South Africa since he became President of the Council.
§ 50. Mr. James Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further discussions he plans with his European Economic Community colleagues about European Economic Community policy towards South Africa.
§ 53. Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European 167W Economic Community Council will next discuss collective European Economic Community action against South Africa.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe Foreign Ministers of the Twelve discussed South Africa in Political Co-operation on 15 to 16 September and again on 27 October. They will continue to pay close attention to the issue.
§ 37. Mr. Nellistasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent actions Her Majesty's Government have taken on the situation in South Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe continue to work for progress towards the establishment in South Africa of a non-racial, representative system of government. We recently underlined our deep concern at the situation in South Africa, including the state of emergency and the large number of detentions without charge by adopting, together with our partners in the Twelve, a further package of measures designed to impress upon the South African Government the urgent need for fundamental change.
§ 38. Mr. Parkasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action is to be taken by the European Economic Community Council following his visit to South Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerForeign Ministers agreed in European political co-operation on 15 to 16 September on a number of measures—some positive, some restrictive—designed to impress on the South African Government the urgent need for fundamental but peaceful change through dialogue.
§ 40. Mr. Hirstasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in South Africa.
§ 62. Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in South Africa.
§ 69. Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent events in southern Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAgainst a background of continuing tension and the state of emergency we remain deeply concerned at the situation inside South Africa. We regret that it seems that no significant progress has been made towards the national dialogue that is so urgently needed.
§ 43. Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of his latest visit to South Africa in his capacity as President of the European Economic Community Council.
§ Mrs. ChalkerDuring his visit my right hon. and learned Friend was able to get across to the many people he met, including members of the South African Government, the grave concern felt by all the Twelve about the situation in South Africa.
§ 54. Mr. Rogersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what use is he making of his presidency of the European Economic Community Council to work towards the end of apartheid in South Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe, together with our partners in the Twelve, have been working actively to promote peaceful change towards a non-racial representative system of168W government in South Africa. The visits to southern Africa by my right hon. and learned Friend in July were part of that effort.
§ 55. Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what impact has been made on South African apartheid by European Economic Community policies implemented during his presidency.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweWe are disappointed that the South African Government have so far failed to take the steps towards genuine national dialogue called for by the Twelve. The measures which the Twelve themselves have taken can have left the South Africans in no doubt of our collective determination to see an end to apartheid.
§ 57. Mr. Terry Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measure of agreement exists among European Economic Community members about economic action against South Africa; and if he will make a statement.
§ 58. Mr. Lofthouseasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what economic measures have so far been taken against South Africa by the European Economic Community during his presidency; what consideration has been given to restrictions on imports of coal from South Africa; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerForeign Ministers of the Twelve agreed on 15–16 September to adopt a package of measures—some restrictive, some positive—on the lines envisaged by the European Council in June at the Hague. Most partners would also have been willing to include a ban on the import of coal. The presidency is continuing to seek consensus on this question.
§ 60. Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in working with other countries to secure the abolition of apartheid in South Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe are deeply disappointed that the South African Government have so far failed to take the necessary steps towards national dialogue which we have urged upon them, together with our European and Commonwealth partners. However, they can be in no doubt of our determination to see an early end to apartheid.
§ 71. Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the European Economic Community Council will next consider measures to end apartheid in South Africa.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe Foreign Ministers of the Twelve discussed South Africa in Political co-operation on 15–16 September and again on 27 October. They will continue to pay close attention to the problem. They announced on 16 September a package of further measures including bans on new investment and on the import of iron, steel and gold coins as well as a strengthening of the Twelve's aid programmes to black South Africans and to neighbouring states.
§ 73. Mrs. Clwydasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps he will take, as President of the European Economic Community Council, to secure an end to apartheid in South Africa.
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§ Mrs. ChalkerForeign Ministers of the Twelve discussed South Africa in political co-operation on 15/16 September and again on 27 October. They announced on 16 September a package of further measures including bans on new investment and on the import of iron, steel and gold coins as well as a strengthening of the Twelve's aid programmes to black South Africans and to neighbouring states. Together with our European partners we shall continue to work actively for an end to apartheid.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has of the practice of apartheid in Bophuthatswana.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe existence of Bophuthatswana is an expression of the practice of apartheid in South Africa as a whole.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has of the financial dependence of Bophuthatswana on the Government of South Africa.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAccording to estimated figures published by the South African Institute for Race Relations the South African Government provided grants and loans worth R362 million to Bophuthatswana in 1983–84, which should be compared with budgeted spending by Bophuthatswana of R731 million. The Bophuthatswana economy is dependent on the wider South African economy in other ways too: in particular wages of commuters and migrants working in the rest of South Africa account for a high proportion of the income of residents in Bophuthatswana.