HC Deb 09 May 1973 vol 856 c485
25. Mr. Peter Archer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to pay an official visit to Indonesia.

Mr. Anthony Royle

My right hon. Friend paid an official visit to Indonesia in July 1972 and has no plans at present to pay a further visit. My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Defence visited Indonesia in February this year.

Mr. Archer

Did either the noble Lord or the right hon. Gentleman point out to the Indonesian Government the concern of people here, who would like to see closer relations with Indonesia, at her reputation of being a country with about 55,000 political prisoners, which is probably a greater number in relation to the size of population, than anywhere else in the world?

Mr. Royle

No, they did not. The Indonesian authorities are aware of the concern in this country, as indicated by the hon. and learned Gentleman. He may be interested to know, however, that as far as we are aware none of those detained in Indonesia for alleged association with the Communist Party is a British subject.