HC Deb 19 February 1992 vol 204 c184W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to make further representations on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Orton Chirwa.

Mrs. Chalker

We will continue to raise the case of Orton and Vera Chirwa with the Malawian Government at every suitable opportunity until they are released.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Malawi to discuss the continuing imprisonment of Mr. and Mrs. Chirwa; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

The Secretary of State has no plans to visit Malawi. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Mr. Jopling) on 13 February, column605.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the representations made by Her Majesty's Government to the Malawian Government concerning Mr. and Mrs. Orton Chirwa.

Mrs. Chalker

The Government made representations to the Malawian Government on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Chirwa in February and March 1984, October 1986, December 1987, July 1990, December 1991, January 1992 —three times—and February 1992.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department will support attempts by the hon. Member to seek to visit Mr. and Mrs. Orton Chirwa in prison in Malawi.

Mrs. Chalker

Any such visit would require the agreement of the Malawian Government. A response to a request by the EC and the United States Governments for access by the International Committee of the Red Cross to all Malawi's prisoners is currently awaited.