§ 1. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will grant free legal aid to the three Bahraini political prisoners on St. Helena, in view of the important legal aspects of the case, the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government in removing the men to an inaccessible island and the expense of conducting such legal action as necessary in St. Helena.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Edward Heath)No. Sir.
§ Mr. StonehouseWill the Minister now confirm that the statement he made to the House a fortnight ago was rather misleading, as one of the prisoners concerned has now made clear that he wishes to take further legal proceedings to ensure his release from illegal detention in St. Helena for the past four years? Further, as these men are detained on a remote, rather inaccessible island, which involves the men's legal advisers in considerable expense in conducting the case, will the right hon. Gentleman arrange for facilities to be made available so that the case may be conducted?
§ Mr. HeathThe statement I made to the House was not in any way misleading. It stated quite clearly the position at that time. The Government do not accept that the detention is illegal and, as I have already said, I cannot accede to the hon. Gentleman's request.
§ Mr. FletcherBut, surely, the Minister will not deprive these unfortunate men of their opportunity to present their legal case merely because they have not got the financial means to prosecute it. Will not he ensure that they have facilities for legal aid?
§ Mr. HeathThe manner in which their case is presented is a matter for the men and their legal advisers to decide.
§ Mr. StonehouseWill the Lord Privy Seal please reply to the first part of my Question, and confirm that one of these political prisoners now wishes legal proceedings to be pursued?
§ 11. Mr. Warbeyasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will now make a further statement about the future of the three Bahraini citizens imprisoned in St. Helena.
§ Mr. HeathCorrespondence is in progress between Her Majesty's Government and the prisoners' solicitors. I have no further statement to make at present.
§ Mr. WarbeyWill the right hon. Gentleman, first, answer the question put to him earlier by my hon. Friend the Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stone-house) and say whether or not one of the prisoners has indicated that he desires to proceed with habeas corpus proceedings? Secondly, will the right hon. Gentleman recognise that these men have been put under very strong psychological pressures and that the Government have presented them with three courses only: one, proceeding with a second go at habeas corpus proceedings at enormous expense; two, remaining for another ten years in St. Helena: three, going back to Bahrain to serve their sentence? Is it not clear in the circumstances that none of those choices is one which ought to be offered to men who are serving unjust sentences?
§ Mr. HeathI told the hon. Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) that the question of proceedings is a matter between the prisoners and their solicitors. The Government have placed no psychological pressure of any kind on these prisoners in St. Helena.
§ Mr. StonehouseThe Minister cannot expect to get away with this as easily as that. A fortnight ago he made a statement to the House indicating that the men were choosing to go back to Bahrain, and he now knows that that is not the case. Will he confirm that these men were removed illegally and, indeed, they were kidnapped by those responsible to his Department four years ago? In view of that, would it not now be honourable for the men to be released and allowed to choose for themselves where they should go?
§ Mr. HeathI have already said that the Government do not accept that these 482 prisoners were removed illegally or that any such expression as "kidnapped" is applicable.