§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn of 23 October, if he will state by what manner of contact or information Her Majesty's Government will satisfy itself as to whether or not Bophuthatswana fulfils the normal criteria for recognition.
§ Mr. EggarWe take our decisions in the light of all the information available to us, including information as to territory, population, administration and capacity for independent action.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his answer to hon. Member for Ynys Môn of 23 October, if he will state by what degree Bophuthatswana has satisfied or failed to satisfy the normal criteria for recognition.
§ Mr. EggarWe take decisions on the recognition of states on the basis of criteria referred to by my hon. Friend the Minister of State in her answer of 23 October. There is no particular degree or scale relevant to such decisions.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to his answer to hon. Member for Ynys Môn of 23 October, if he will list those occasional visits by officials to Bophuthatswana, their date and purpose, which are known to him.
§ Mr. EggarDetailed records of visits are not kept: lout, for example, officials have visited Bophuthatswana at approximately three-monthly intervals to see British subjects imprisoned there.