§ 8. Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent information he has received regarding the whereabouts of Commander Crabb.
§ 9. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the most recent information received by Her Majesty's Government about Commander Crabb.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydNo recent information about Commander Crabb has been received by Her Majesty's Government.
§ Dame Irene WardCan my right hon. and learned Friend give us a little more assurance, having regard to some wild statements which have appeared in the Press and the disquiet which some of those observations have aroused? Has he not got any further statement to make on the subject, on whether we know definitely what happened, and whether there has been identification of the body?
§ Mr. LloydI would remind my hon. Friend that at the inquest in June, 1957, the coroner expressed himself as quite satisfied that the remains which were found in Chichester Harbour on 9th June were those of Commander Crabb.
§ Mr. AwberyIs the Foreign Secretary aware that there is a possibility that the coroner was wrong on that occasion? Is he aware also that a book is being published shortly by publishers in London who state that they are satisfied with the authenticity of the information received from Russia? They are publishing this. Could the Foreign Secretary give us some information about the publication of this book?
§ Mr. LloydI do not know about the book. I have no other information about Commander Crabb than that which I have given to the House. I have no reason to think that there is any truth in the suggestion that the coroner was wrong.
§ Mr. FernyhoughHas not the time come when the Government should come clean with the House about this case, and ought not the House to know who was responsible for giving the instructions to undertake that rather shady escapade?