HC Deb 01 July 1992 vol 210 cc587-8W
20. Sir George Gardiner

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact he has had with the parties to the Conference for a Democratic South Africa talks in South Africa.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

As I indicated earlier, we maintain a close dialogue with all the parties in South Africa.

40. Mr. Hanson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet representatives of the African National Congress to discuss the situation in South Africa.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has already been in contact with both Mr. Mandela and President de Klerk. My right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey saw Mr. Walter Sisulu. deputy president of the ANC on 26 June, and Mr. Frank Mdlalose, chairman of Inkatha Freedom party on 19 June.

23. Mr. Colvin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the Republic of South Africa in the light of the Conference for a Democratic South Africa.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Before the negotiations were suspended CODESA had achieved remarkable progress in agreement on transforming South Africa into a non-racial democratic society. We are deeply concerned about the recent escalation of violence and the tragic loss of life at Boipatong.

We note the South African Government's determination to bring to justice those responsible. We believe that the interests of the majority of South Africans are best served by concerted efforts to get negotiations back on track as soon as possible. The South African Government's enormous strides towards representative democracy and considerable progress already achieved at CODESA show that negotiations work.