| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Venezuela
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby, who are imprisoned in Venezuela, in the last three months. [70001]
Mr. Fatchett:
My noble Friend the Under- Secretary of State, Baroness Symons, received a letter from my hon. Friend in December 1998 about his constituent James Miles. My noble Friend replied on 5 January 1999.
10 Feb 1999 : Column: 292
Officials in the Consular Division of the FCO are in regular contact by telephone and letter with James Miles' and Paul Losebys' parents.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) the British Ambassador to Venezuela and (b) a representative from the British Embassy last visited Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby. [70002]
Mr. Fatchett:
The British Ambassador to Venezuela has not visited James Miles and Paul Loseby. UK based Consular staff visit James Miles and Paul Loseby at least
10 Feb 1999 : Column: 293
every quarter and last did so on 2 February, when James Miles declined to see the UK-based member of staff. Other consular staff visit more frequently and have seen both on numerous occasions.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of (a) the conditions in which Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby are being held and (b) their medical and dental situation. [70003]
Mr. Fatchett:
Consular staff at our posts overseas monitor prison conditions to satisfy themselves that British prisoners are not discriminated against, that their basic human rights are met, and that illnesses are treated.
Consular staff have interceded with the Venezuelan authorities whenever James Miles or Paul Loseby have requested medical or dental treatment.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings representatives of the British Embassy in Caracas have had with Venezuelan Government officials in respect of Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby. [70004]
Mr. Fatchett:
Consular staff at the British Embassy in Caracas meet regularly with Venezuelan officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Prisons to discuss consular aspects of their imprisonment. The most recent meeting was on 3 February 1999 between the Vice Consul and an official from the Prisons Directorate at the Ministry of Justice.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the inauguration of the new Venezuelan President on the case of Mr. Miles and Mr. Loseby. [70005]
Mr. Fatchett:
The new President of Venezuela was inaugurated on 2 February. It is too early to say what, if any, policies might be introduced which will affect foreign prisoners.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on allegations that the Government of the Maldives imprisoned seven Christians because of their beliefs. [70213]
Mr. Fatchett:
We attach importance to the right to freedom of religion and expression. We were therefore concerned to learn about the deportation from the Maldives in July 1998 of nineteen foreign nationals for alleged proselytising activity and the detention of several Maldivian citizens who had apparently converted to Christianity. We understand that all those detained have now been released. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what levels the four reports despatched to his Department by the British Embassy in
10 Feb 1999 : Column: 294
Madrid, relating to the investigations by Judge Garzon, were read, and when; which desks these reports were forwarded to for information within his Department and to where outside his Department; and what action was taken as a result. [70284]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 9 February 1999]: The reports of 12 November 1997 and 23 January 1998 were read at desk level in the Department; the former was sent to our Embassy in Santiago; the latter to our Embassies in Santiago and Buenos Aires. The reports of 15 and 16 October were read at senior official level in the FCO, passed to the Home Office on 16 October, and drawn on in briefing the Foreign Secretary on 16 October before Senator Pinochet was detained.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the nature of the informal indication to the British Embassy in Santiago in early September 1998 that Augusto Pinochet was to visit the United Kingdom; what reports were sent to his Department as a consequence; what reference was made in internal communications to potential legal and diplomatic difficulties that might ensue; and if such reports were brought to his attention. [70285]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 9 February 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Ruislip Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson) on 29 October 1998, Official Report, columns 273-74, and to the answer my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Symons, gave to the nobel Lord Lamont of Lerwick in another place on 11 January 1999, Official Report, House of Lords, column 3. The reports subsequently circulated with the FCO made no reference to potential legal and diplomatic difficulties. This was reported to me over the weekend 19/20 September.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the contents of the note faxed to his Department on 9 October 1998 by the British Embassy in Santiago relating to reports of General Pinochet's death; at what level in his Department this was read; and what action was taken in response. [70287]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Our Embassy in Santiago telephoned the Resident Clerk late on 9 October following inquiries from the press about reports that Senator Pinochet had died that afternoon in London. The Resident Clerk obtained confirmation from the Chilean Embassy that the reports were untrue and informed our Embassy. The Embassy's subsequent note to the Department recording this exchange was received after Senator Pinochet was detained.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (i) minutes and (ii) other documents are held by his Department relating to telephone calls made by representatives of the Chilean Embassy concerning the departure from the UK of General Pinochet prior to the issuing of the arrest warrant; what was the nature of the discussions; at what time of day those discussions took place; and if he will make a statement. [70289]
10 Feb 1999 : Column: 295
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 9 February]: For details of the telephone calls between the Chilean Ambassador and Foreign Office officials, I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Windsor (Mr. Trend) on 25 January 1999, Official Report, column 149, and on 1 February 1999, Official Report, columns 496-97. As I have already made clear, both conversations took place before the receipt of the request from the Spanish authorities for the provisional arrest of Senator Pinochet.
10 Feb 1999 : Column: 296
Mr. Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to co-ordinate Government policy on the future development and status of the Cornish language. [68662]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We are discussing with colleagues in home departments the impact of the Council of Europe's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages on the Cornish language. This is, ultimately, a matter of domestic rather than foreign policy.