§ MR. TAYLOR (Lancashire, Radcliffe)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the prisoners in the Egyptian tame foxhunting case who have appealed against their sentence are still confined to gaol; and, if still in gaol, will His Majesty's Government take steps for their release pending appeal.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Viscount CRANBORNE, Rochester)His Majesty's Government have no information which would enable me to answer the first question of the hon. Gentleman. With regard to the second, the hon. Gentleman is evidently unaware that the Egyptian courts are as independent as the courts of the United Kingdom, and it would be highly improper for His Majesty's Government to interfere with their discretion.