§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in 1989 the Government approached the King of Nepal concerning violations of human rights in that land.
§ Mr. SainsburyWe have several times raised British concerns with Nepalese Ministers and officials. These matters are not however, normally discussed at the level of Heads of State.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Nepal concerning conditions in Nepalese prisons and detention centres and the continued use of torture and ill-treatment of Christians.
§ Mr. SainsburyNone. The Nepalese Government are well aware of our concern about cases involving Christians, about which we have approached them many times.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Nepalese authorities concerning the detainees held without trial in Nepal for up to three years under the Public Security Act.
§ Mr. SainsburyThe Nepalese Government are well aware of our concerns about human rights issues. We note that recent legislation has reduced the maximum period for detention without trial to 18 months.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government have done to bring to the attention of the United Nations the continued violation of human rights in Nepal.
§ Mr. SainsburyWe express British concerns as and when necessary to the Nepalese Government.