HC Deb 08 November 1989 vol 159 c696W
23. Mr. Canavan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent steps he has taken to discourage sporting links with South Africa.

Mr. Moynihan

The sixth conference of European Ministers responsible for sport which I attended in Reykjavik from 30 May to 1 June 1989 agreed a resolution concerning apartheid in sport and discouraging sporting contact with South Africa. The resolution has been adopted by the Committee of Ministers and I have asked the Sports Council to circulate a copy of it to the governing bodies of sport.

In August I wrote to the chairman of the Test and County Cricket Board and the president of the Rugby Football Union about the proposed tours to South Africa restating the Government's commitment to the Gleneagles agreement and our policy of seeking to discourage sporting contact with South Africa. I asked for copies of my letters to be passed on to individual players who had accepted invitations to visit South Africa.

81. Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is Her Majesty's Government's current policy on sporting links with South Africa.

Mr. Moynihan

Her Majesty's Government remain fully committed to the Commonwealth statement on apartheid in sport—the Gleneagles agreement.