§ Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the application of Mr. Letlakha, a South African citizen, for political asylum in this country, and on the action which he has taken.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesMr. Letlakha arrived here from the Congo, via Brussels, on 4th July and applied for political asylum. His application was most carefully considered. I made enquiries from the British representative at Kinshasa, and have also been in touch with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. I have no reason to think that the Congolese authorities will cease to accord Mr. Letlakha proper treatment as a refugee and so, consistently with the internationally-accepted criterion which we apply, there is no case for the grant of asylum here. Arrangements are being made for Mr. Letlakha's departure.