§ Sir Patrick Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, during the Minister of State's forthcoming visit to Zimbabwe, he will make representations for the repatriation of Mr. Francis and Mr. Stephen Bateman to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. OnslowI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to Dr. Francis Bertrand and Mr. Stephen Bertrand who were sentenced in May 1982 to 10 and 4 years imprisonment, respectively, on charges of conspiring to commit acts of terrorism and sabotage. There is no evidence to suggest that their initial trial and their appeal trial were other than fair, and it is open to them to submit an appeal for clemency. In these circumstances, I cannot see that such representations would be appropriate.