§ 44. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what sustenance is provided for the hostages taken from Eritrean villages of the high plateau and ordered to reside in 1205 Tessenei in the Western Province, having regard to the fact that six of the 10 persons taken from Zazegga are over 50 years of age.
§ The Minister of State (Mr. Younger)As my hon. Friend has already been informed, these persons are in no sense hostages. No sustenance is provided by the British Administration for them.
§ Mr. FreemanCan the Minister say how long it is proposed to hold these hostages for a crime for which they were in no way responsible and in no way liable?
§ Mr. YoungerI cannot give the exact date, because it depends to some extent upon the co-operation received by the authorities from the places where they originally resided. It was non-co-operation which was originally the cause of this.