HC Deb 20 October 1982 vol 29 c148W
Mr. Moyle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any attempt has been made to secure a date for trial from the Saudi authorities for Mr. Carmichael, at present in gaol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Rifkind

No. Court: proceedings can commence after the creditor; and Mr. Carmichael, who also has claims, have submitted a full statement of their claims to the civil rights centre. This has not yet been done.

Mr. Moyle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates Mr. Carmichael, at present in gaol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been visited by a consular official since he was imprisoned.

Mr. Rifkind

The British embassy first gained access to Mr. Carmichael on 31 January 1982. Since then he has been visited by consular officers on 28 February, 20 March, 21 April, .15 May, 5 June, 16 June, 1 August, 24 August, 6 September and 13 October.

Mr. Moyle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any attempt has been made by Her Majesty's Government to secure an independent medical examination of Mr. Carmichael., at present in gaol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Rifkind

Mr. Carmichael has asked for a medical examination by a British doctor known to him. Our embassy has approached the doctor in question to ask him to see Mr. Carmichael. In the meantime our embassy has done all it can to ensure that Mr. Carmichael receives whatever medical treatment he needs.

Mr. Moyle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty 's Government have made any representations to the Saudi Arabian authorities in respect of the treatment received by Mr. Carmichael, at present in gaol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during the course of his period in gaol and in the prison hospital.

Mr. Rifkind

Our embassy in Jedda made representations to the Saudi authorities on 8 August and 11 October about Mr. Carmichael's case. My right hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Oxon (Mr. Hurd) also raised the case with the Saudi ambassador en 14 October.