§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Alec Douglas-Home)With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I wish to make a statement.
I regret to inform the House that three Ministry of Defence civilian radar operators, working with the Turkish Air Force, were kidnapped on the evening of the 26th March at Unye, on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. The Turkish authorities have undertaken a big search operation, including the use of helicopters.
The names of the three men are Mr. Gordon Banner, Mr. John Law and Mr. Charles Turner. Their relatives have been informed. The whole House will join me in expressing to them our profound sympathy in this ordeal.
234 The Turkish Government have expressed their deep regret at the incident and have assured us that they are making every effort to find the men and will let us have any further information as soon as possible. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has sent a message to the Turkish Prime Minister expressing our concern and asking to be kept in touch with developments.
§ Mr. HealeyI thank the Foreign Secretary for making that statement. The Opposition naturally share his concern and would wish to join him in sending sympathy to the relatives of those kidnapped.
Firstly, will the Foreign Secretary assure the House that he will follow the precedent rightly set in earlier cases of this nature in the approach taken by Her Majesty's Government to the kidnapping? Secondly, is there yet any information as to the terms being demanded by the kidnappers for the release of those kidnapped?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeYes, Sir; I give the right hon. Gentleman the assurance called for in the first part of his question. No terms have so far been put forward by the kidnappers.