HL Deb 15 April 1993 vol 544 cc1182-4

3.28 p.m.

Lord Jenkins of Putney asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have ascertained or will ascertain whether Mr. Mordechai Vanunu, who has been kept in solitary confinement by the Israeli Government for six years, is in receipt of medical attention and whether they have any information on his physical and mental condition and expectation of release.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)

My Lords, we understand from the Israelis that Mr. Vanunu is subject to regular medical examinations and that he has had no major health problems. Mr. Vanunu has served six of his 18-year sentence. Under normal Israeli procedures the question of early release only arises when a prisoner has served two-thirds of his sentence.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, I am grateful for that reply. However, is the noble Baroness aware that the European Parliament called for the release of Mr. Vanunu? Will she this afternoon associate the Government with that request?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, we have become used to the European Parliament calling for all sorts of things. It does not necessarily mean that it is right. It is a matter for the Israeli judicial authorities. We know that they had a recent internal review and there have been improvements in the conditions under which Mr. Vanunu is held. I do not believe it is for us to prescribe how another country's judiciary should sentence its convicted nationals or, indeed, deal with them.

Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone

My Lords, while fully understanding what my noble friend has just said and irrespective of the question of early release, could it not be argued that six years' solitary confinement comes within the definition of inhuman and degrading treatment?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, I understand what my noble and learned friend has just said. It is a very serious situation. I fully agree that there are grounds for humanitarian concern because it is a long period of solitary confinement. Just that point was raised informally with the Israelis last week. I understand that a petition lodged by Mr. Vanunu seeking an end to his solitary confinement will be heard soon.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, Mordechai Vanunu, despite some of his views, has been highly respected in Israel, in Middle East countries and indeed in Europe and the Americas. In view of the almost barbarous treatment of Mr. Vanunu, would it not be in the interests of everyone, including those who are opposed to what we believe, that he should receive much better treatment than he has received up to now?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, I understand what the noble Lord has said. We have, as a result of learning of this internal review recently carried out, noted that while Mr. Vanunu still at this moment remains in solitary confinement his cell has been enlarged—I am told that it has even been redecorated —and he has been given additional access to facilities. His extensive visiting rights have not always been taken up, but because there are grounds for concern I reiterate the point that I have just made to my noble and learned friend Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone.

Lord Beloff

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that Israel is a country at war, as evinced most recently when Saddam Hussein attacked it with missiles? Is it not probable that a country at war will take very severe measures against any of its nationals who appear to breach military secrets? Have the Israeli Government asked Her Majesty's Government anything about their treatment in wartime of convicted spies and traitors?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, my noble friend is right that anyone revealing sensitive military secrets in any country runs the risk of harsh punishment in that country. The answer to his final question is certainly no. The most important thing is that this is dealt with in a humane fashion. I hope that what I have said this afternoon, particularly to my noble and learned friend Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone, indicates that we are seeking that this should be done, although I must point out to the House that we have, as a British Government, no formal locus to intervene.

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, given the widespread concern about Mr. Vanunu's treatment in prison, particularly the fact that he has been in solitary confinement for so long, can the noble Baroness confirm whether he has been allowed visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross or any other similar humanitarian organisations?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, I see no reason why he should not be allowed such visits. He has extensive visiting rights. As I said in answer to an earlier question, those have not always been taken up. However, I will check on the matter with the International Committee of the Red Cross because I do not have chapter and verse with which I can reply to the noble Baroness accurately from the Dispatch Box.

Lord Bethell

My Lords, all elected assemblies can make mistakes and the European Parliament is, I am sure, no exception. Can my noble friend confirm that the Government do at least pay attention to and consider resolutions passed by the European Parliament, like the other 11 governments do?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, my noble friend is absolutely correct. It is of course right that we note very carefully what the European Parliament says. My noble friend will remember from the period when I went regularly to the European Parliament to answer its questions that we take a good deal of notice of what it says. However, we do not always seek to do what it says we should do and nor do we always agree with it.

Lord Hylton

My Lords, is Mr. Vanunu's knowledge of military secrets the justification for this prolonged solitary confinement'? Is that argument not seriously eroded by the lapse of time?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, this really is a matter of what happened at the time, which was the revelation of sensitive military secrets. It is not for us to judge in retrospect that a decision reached by a court in Israel should be changed. I accept, as I stated earlier, that there is concern over such a long period of solitary confinement. That is why we hope that the petition lodged will have a better outcome than so far.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, although it is of course true that the Government have no special locus in this matter, is it not legitimate for those who are interested to take some comfort in the excellent knowledge of it displayed by the noble Baroness, given the fact that Mr. Vanunu was lured out of this country by subterfuge, apparently on the part of agents of the Israeli Government, and was then kidnapped in the capital of a Community country; namely, Italy?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, I can add very little to what I have already said. There was no evidence that any UK law was broken at the time of Mr. Vanunu's departure from this country. I am not responsible, and nor are Her Majesty's Government, for what goes on in other European countries such as Italy but it is quite clear that anyone who engages in the revelation of secrets is bound to run the risk not only of discovery but also of being taken before the courts of that country and severely punished. It is a matter of note that many Israeli people were highly critical of Mr. Vanunu's action at the time and the Israeli authorities have said that one of the reasons why he has been held in solitary confinement up to now has been for his own protection.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lord, is the noble Baroness aware that she has given us some very good answers this afternoon? May I express the hope that, arising from what she has said, it will be unnecessary to raise this matter again?