HC Deb 14 December 1988 vol 143 cc587-8W
Mr. Wilson

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what charges are still outstanding against Colonel Hendrik Botha, Stephanus de Jaser, William Metelerkamp and Jacobus la Grange.

Mr. Lilley

[holding answer 12 December 1988]: The four would face charges that they conspired with each other and with others on diverse dates between 23 February 1982 and 1 April 1984 to evade prohibitions in force on the exportation of goods from the United Kingdom pursuant to the provisions of the Export of Goods Control Order 1981 whereby an offence or offences contrary to section 170(2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 would have been committed.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date in 1984 passports were returned to those persons known as the Coventry four.

Mr. Lilley

[holding answer 12 December 1988]: Passports were not returned to the persons known as the "Coventry Four".

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the bail money offered by Mr. Andre Pelser in the case of the persons known as the Coventry four has been returned to persons acting for or on behalf of the South African Government.

Mr. Lilley

[holding answer 12 December 1988]: The £400,000 offered by Mr. Andre Pelser was estreated by the Coventry magistrates court. Estreated bail is paid into the Consolidated Fund.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many summaries of developments in the inquiries by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise into the case of those persons known as the Coventry four were written; and to whom they were despatched.

Mr. Lilley

[holding answer 12 December 1988]: I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will name the four persons remanded before magistrates at Coventry in March 1984 on charges of breaching arms embargo regulations.

Mr. Lilley

[holding answer 12 December 1988]: The four persons were William Randolph Metelerkamp, Hendrik Jacobus Botha, Stephanus Johannes de Jager and Jacobus Francois La Grange.