HC Deb 30 January 1961 vol 633 cc589-90
22. Mr. Healey

asked the Lord Privy Seal if lie will make a statement on his recent conversations with the Ruler of Bahrain.

36. Mr. Wall

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to Bahrain and his talks with the Ruler.

Mr. Heath

I visited Bahrain on 15th, 16th and 19th January, spending altogether two and a half days there. In the course of this, I had two long conversations with the Ruler about various matters of mutual concern. The contents of these talks must, of course, remain confidential, but they were governed by the spirit of close friendship which has existed between Her Majesty's Government and Bahrain for over one hundred years, and which both Her Majesty's Government and the Ruler are anxious should continue.

I paid visits to the Women's Hospital as an example of the free medical services provided there, to a boys' technical school, part of the growth of free educational facilities over the past ten years and to the Law Courts to discuss the progress made in developing these courts. In addition, I saw the building of the new port extension at Jufair and the doubling of the causeway between Manama and Muharraq. I was impressed by this progress which I hope will continue in the interests of everyone in Bahrain.

Mr. Healey

In view of the information which the Lord Privy Seal gave the House just before the Recess—that he had asked for clemency for the prisoners now held on St. Helena under Her Majesty's custody—can the Lord Privy Seal, in spite of the fact that he says he circulated an answer covering some of these points in the OFFICIAL REPORT, tell the House whether he persuaded the Ruler to release these men, and. if not, will Her Majesty's Government not release these men who are now under British sovereignty without further ado?

Mr. Speaker

The Lord Privy Seal said that he would answer Question No. 10 and a number of others at the end of Questions.