HL Deb 23 January 1996 vol 568 cc61-2WA
Lord Braine of Wheatley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will seek to obtain information about the issues raised in the Channel 4 documentary "Return to the Dying Rooms" and whether they will place in the Library of the House any conclusions they may have reached.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

We are unable to verify these reports since we do not have unrestricted access to Chinese orphanages. However, we are in close touch with various British non-governmental organisations, as well as United Nations agencies such as UNICEF, who are active in these areas in China.

Lord Braine of Wheatley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will make representations to the Government of the People's Republic of China concerning the allegations in the Channel 4 documentary "Return to the Dying Rooms" that some girl babies are starved to death or left to die.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My right honourable and learned friend the Foreign Secretary expressed our profound concern over the recent allegations of abuses in Chinese orphanages, during his meetings with the Chinese President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, in Peking last week. We have urged the Chinese authorities to investigate the allegations fully, quickly and transparently. We raise with the Chinese authorities, at every suitable opportunity, our concerns about reports of human rights abuses in China.