§ 20. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Chinese Government's arrest, imprisonment and release of Mr. Peter Crouch.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleWe welcome the release of Mr. Crouch. This is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. We should like this release to be followed by the release of all British subjects still detained in China.
§ Mr. RankinI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply and wish him well in his new office. Has he read in today's issue of The Times the account by a former Prime Minister of France of his very recent visit to China? If the hon. Gentleman has not done so, will he do 850 it? Is he aware that if he does he will find more good sense in what the French ex-Prime Minister said than in any information he will get from any British agent who has been in China?