South Africa (Hansard, 10 November 1987)

§ Mr. Steel
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on Government policy on promoting the export of computer technology to South African companies and institutions.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The Government's policy is that within the limits of our international obligations and undertakings, the same assistance is provided to exporters of computer technology to South Africa as to other overseas markets.
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§ Mr. Steel
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on Government policy on the export of safety and security equipment to the South African Security Federation.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
It is the Government's policy that civil trade with South Africa should, within the limits of our international obligations and undertakings, be determined by the commercial judgments of those engaged in it.

§ Mr. Steel
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if Her Majesty's Government have issued any guidelines on the advertisement of South African manufactured arms in British publications; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
No.

§ Mr. Steel
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what function the market report on computer technology published by his Department has in the encouragement of the sale of computers to South Africa.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
The aim of this report is to assist British exporters by providing factual information on recent developments and other market factors affecting the computer market in South Africa. Similar support for exporters is provided by my Department in many markets.

§ Mr. Steel
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the implications of the sale of computer technology to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of South Africa by British firms for the implementation of United Nations Security Resolutions 418 and 558.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
We continue to abide by our international commitments on South Africa, including United Nations Security Council resolutions.

§ Mr. Steel
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the British Government's policy regarding the export of Land Rovers to South Africa for use by the South African military and police.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
Military and paramilitary versions of the Land Rover are subject to export licensing. Any application to export such vehicles to South Africa would be likely to be refused. However, the basic Land Rover, which has a widespread civilian and commercial use in South Africa, can be freely exported. To prohibit their export would be unreasonable interference with normal civil trade with South Africa.