HC Deb 14 November 1984 vol 67 c673
8. Mr. Andrew MacKay

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the Government's relations with Libya.

Mr. Luce

Four of the hostages detained by the Libyan authorities earlier this year are still being held. We continue to make vigorous representations through the Italian protecting power, and through other channels, to secure their early release. We look to the Libyan authorities to give a fair and open trial to the two who were recently charged with security offences. While British citizens are being held without justification we cannot begin to look at ways of dealing with other problems between us and the Libyan authorities.

Mr. MacKay

Will my hon. Friend go somewhat further and confirm to the House that we will not give in to Libyan blackmail by entertaining at any time a swap of the two British citizens who have been arrested with terrorists held in Britain? At the same time, will he confirm that those British citizens in Libya at the moment are being adequately represented?

Mr. Luce

I must endorse strongly what my hon. Friend has just said. There can be no blackmail whatever as a result of the four citizens who have been detained. If we, as a Government, were to follow the policy of handing over those who have been convicted in British courts of terrorist offences, that would undoubtedly greatly increase the danger to British subjects in many other parts of the world. We cannot conceivably contemplate that.

We are watching the interests of the four citizens with great concern and are taking action with regard to Mr. Russell and Mr. Anderson, against whom we believe that there are now charges, to clarify the nature of those charges, to ensure that they have adequate legal representation and to work hard to ensure that their trial is open, fair and is held as early as possible.

Mr. Ryman

Will the MInister confirm, or deny, that Libyan nationals are being trained in this country by the NCB in the use of computers which could easily be adapted for military purposes?

Mr. Luce

I cannot give a specific answer, but I shall look into the matter. We broke off diplomatic relations with Libya on 22 April 1984 in the light of the terrible incident in which WPC Fletcher was killed. We do not have any official relations with that country, but ordinary trade continues. There are still 4,000 British subjects in Libya and I hope that the House will take note of that.