HC Deb 04 May 1988 vol 132 cc464-5W
31. Mr. Andy Stewart

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of efforts by the Bophuthatswana Government to establish a multi-racial, democratic society which guarantees human rights.

Mrs. Chalker

The policy of apartheid applied in other parts of South Africa is not applied within Bophuthatswana. However, Bophuthatswana was created out of the republic of South Africa as a key element in the policy of separate development and we regard the territory as part of South Africa.

Moreover, there are persistent reports that non-Tswanas resident in Bophuthatswana are subject to discrimination. We also note that recent legislation restricts the exercise of certain individual rights.

36. Mr. Colin Shepherd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which he is receiving accurate and detailed information about the situation in Bophuthatswana from the British embassy in Pretoria.

46. Mr. John Townend

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the British embassy in South Africa obtains more accurate information about the situation in Bophuthatswana.

64. Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the British embassy in Pretoria obtains more accurate information about the situation in Bophuthatswana.

Mrs. Chalker

Her Majesty's embassy in South Africa already provides full and accurate information on all relevant aspects of the South African scene, including developments in Bophuthatswana.

73. Mr. Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on efforts to establish within Bophuthatswana a multi-racial, democratic society which guarantees human rights.

Mrs. Chalker

Any assessment has to take into account that Bophuthatswana is an expression of the South African Government's policy of grand apartheid and that we do not recognise it or the other "independent" homelands.

The policy of apartheid applied in other parts of South Africa is not applied within Bophuthatswana but there are persistent reports that non-Tswanas resident in Bophuthatswana are subject to discrimination. We note that recent legislation restricts the exercise of certain individual rights.

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