§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, pursuant to the Minister of State's reply to the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton, 13 May, Official Report, column 11, regarding Mr. Salah Najem and the Libyan People's Bureau and the subsequent letter dated 4 June, he wishes to make any corrections to the answer of 7 May, Official Report, columns 329–31, regarding persons in the bureau at the time of the murder of WPC Fletcher.
§ Mr. Giles ShawMr. Salah Najem was in the bureau at the time of the shooting, but left it soon afterwards. He was arrested and interviewed by the police, but after being eliminated from their inquiries was released.
The question asked by my hon. Friend on 7 May related to those Libyans who were required to leave the United Kingdom between 17 and 27 April 1984. Apart from those who were deported, those required to leave were those who were in the bureau at the time of the break in diplomatic relations. Mr. Salah Najem was not in that category, and was not required to leave. I regret that the first sentence of the answer referred to was incorrect in suggesting that all those in the bureau at the time of the shooting were required to leave. The position is explained in more detail in my letter of 4 June to my hon. Friend, a copy of which is in the Library.