Lockerbie (Hansard, 4 November 1997)

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 28 October,Official Report, columns 700–02, if Her Majesty's Government have had sight of that part of the Lockerbie evidence held by the United States. [13934.]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 3 November 1997]: As my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Scottish Office, told the hon. Member on 30 October, Official Report, column 876, there has been very full co-operation throughout the investigation between the Scottish and United States authorities. Appropriate arrangements have been made for the sharing of information and evidence.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 28 October,Official Report, column 700–02, what 170W evidence he has now evaluated to establish that, with the exception of Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, the majority of US relatives do not want a trial outside the US or Scotland. [13936]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 3 November 1997]: Our embassy in Washington is in touch with a number of American Lockerbie relatives, some of whom represent groups of other families. I understand that most favour trial in Scotland or the United States, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
"Victims of Flight 103"—the group which represents the largest number of American relatives, shares this view.
The US Administration, on the basis of its contacts with a wide range of the families, also believes that the overwhelming majority are opposed to a trial outside the United States or Scotland.

§ Mr. Dalyell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 28 October,Official Report, columns 700–02, for what reasons it is not possible to mount a prosecution of Libyan suspects for the Lockerbie bombing in Scotland without the co-operation of the US authorities. [13935]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 3 November 1997]: The UK and US authorities have co-operated closely throughout this investigation. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 28 October, Official Report, column 700–01, it would not be possible to mount a prosecution without the co-operation of the US authorities who hold part of the evidence.