§ Mr. Rhodes JamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has taken steps to assess whether the report of the independent international commission of historians is consistent with the earlier findings of his Department.
§ Mr. Ian StewartAs announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16 February, the Ministry of Defence, in conjunction with other interested Departments, is conducting a review of the results of the investigation which it carried out in 1986 into the fate of captured British service men and the involvement, if any, of the then Lieutenant Waldheim in the light of the report of the independent international commission of historians. The commission had access to a wider range of sources than was available to the team which carried out the investigation in 1986, and we therefore wish to reconsider the question taking account of the commission's findings.
It is our intention that the review, which will re-examine all aspects relating to the fate of the captured British service men, should be as thorough and comprehensive as possible. Anyone who has concrete evidence that might be relevant to the review is encouraged to submit it to the Ministry of Defence for examination by the review team.
The review will be pursued as quickly as is consistent with proper consideration of the evidence and the need for accuracy. When it had been completed, it is the intention that a report should be published.
419WI am grateful to Professor Sir Harry Hinsley, the master of St. John's college, Cambridge, for agreeing to scrutinise the results of the review in order to ensure its objectivity and thoroughness.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the review team to report to me on the conduct of the review. I very much hope that anyone who has information to give will do so without delay so that the review can be completed as soon as possible.