§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Maurice Foley)With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I would like to make a statement about the kidnapping of Mr. Brian Lea.
My right hon. Friend, in his statement on 8th May, informed the House that he would be in communication with the Uganda authorities about the Commission of Inquiry set up by President Obote to look into the circumstances of the disappearance and reappearance of Mr. Brian Lea, and he undertook to keep the House up to date with information on this matter.
As a result of discussions with the Uganda Government, Her Majesty's Government have decided to agree to the request of the Uganda Government that we should co-operate with the Commission of Inquiry. We have accordingly agreed to waive diplomatic immunity to the extent of allowing Mr. and Mrs. Lea to attend the inquiry and answer questions relating to the facts of Mr. Lea's disappearance.
Before informing the Uganda Government of our agreement to co-operate, we established that Mr. Lea would be permitted to be represented for the whole of the inquiry by counsel of his choice, and Mr. Desmond Ackner, Q.C., has gone to Kampala to represent Mr. Lea at the Commission's hearings. The High Commissioner will be represented by counsel, Mr. Robin Auld.
Mr. and Mrs. Lea themselves have expressed their desire to give evidence before the Commission.
1249 Her Majesty's Government trust that the full facts about these events will now be clearly established. In the circumstances, the House will not expect me to comment further.
§ Mr. BraineI am sure that the whole House would wish me to thank the hon. Gentleman for making that statement. Does not he agree that, for the sake of all concerned, the real truth of this strange affair must be established without doubt as soon as possible? Will he confirm that he conveyed this view to the Uganda High Commissioner recently, and will he also say when the Kampala inquiry will start and when it is expected to finish?
§ Mr. FoleyClearly, it is in our interests and those of the Uganda Government that the real truth is discovered; this is the object of the inquiry. It is not a trial or a prosecution and, as the Attorney-General of Uganda said this morning, in opening the inquiry, this does not and will not affect the good relations between our two countries. The inquiry opened this morning and was immediately adjourned until Monday, at the request of Mr. Lea's counsel.
I confirm that the High Commissioner was summoned this morning and was informed of the mind of Her Majesty's Government on this matter.
§ Mr. David SteelWill the right hon. Gentleman accept, in the interests of maintaining good relations between our two Governments, that the steps taken by Her Majesty's Government are correct? Also, will Mr. Lea's legal representation be paid for by the Government?