§ 25. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Spanish Government about constituents of the hon. Member for Nuneaton held in Spanish goals.
§ Mr. KershawThree of the hon. Member's constituents were arrested in Benidorm on 14th July 1972 and remanded in custody pending their trial on drugs charges. They returned to Britain in January after being granted provisional liberty on bail.
No representations were made to the Spanish Government but the British Vice-Consul was in touch with the Spanish authorities throughout.
§ Mr. HuckfieldI thank the hon. Gentleman for the assistance which his Department's staff in Alicante rendered to my constituents, but can he be satisfied with a situation in which British citizens in Spanish goals must buy their own food? Is he satisfied with the system of Spanish justice as it affects British citizens who, having been detained for a long time and awaiting further trial, are suddenly released on payment of a heavy fine?
§ Mr. KershawI understand that it is the custom to enable people in Spanish prisons to supplement the diet by buying food, otherwise the diet is not very palatable to British people. As to the release of these people, they were charged with very serious crimes about which the British Embassy in Madrid gives constant 938 warnings to young people. I think that they were fairly lucky to get out when they did.