§ 21. Mr. Frank Roy (Motherwell and Wishaw)What assessment he has made of the whereabouts of missing in action Israeli airman Ron Arad. [61400]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Derek Fatchett)There is no conclusive evidence of the fate of Ron Arad. We cannot be sure where he is, who is holding him or, indeed, whether he is still alive. I met the family of Ron Arad when I visited Israel in January. It is important that the missing service men are not forgotten.
§ Mr. RoyI thank my hon. Friend for his answer. Ron Arad was captured in the Lebanon in 1986—12 long years ago. While encouraging the more moderate elements of the Iranian Government, when my hon. Friend next speaks to that Government, will he ask them what they know about the whereabouts of the airman and the other Israeli service men who have been missing since the early 1980s? I am sure that he agrees that 12 years is a long time for families not to know the whereabouts of their loved ones.
§ Mr. FatchettI have no difficulty in agreeing with my hon. Friend. When I met members of Ron Arad's family earlier this year, I could see the suffering that they had undergone over all those years. We will take every opportunity to raise the issue with anyone who can provide information on the whereabouts of Ron Arad and other missing service men.