§ Mr. FallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress of the French authorities in their investigation of the death in Paris of Mr. Roderick Henderson. [48887]
§ Mr. FatchettThe Examining Magistrate in charge of the investigation has confirmed that police officers are working full-time on the case. Progress in the investigation is slow as witnesses to the attack have not come forward and the French police have few leads to follow. One witness who did come forward subsequently moved address and has not yet been traced.
§ Mr. FallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in how many meetings with the French authorities officials of the British Embassy have raised the investigation into the death in Paris of Mr. Roderick Henderson; at what levels the matter has been raised; and if he will list the meetings concerned. [48888]
§ Mr. FatchettTwo formal meetings have been held. The Deputy Head of our Embassy in Paris raised the matter with the Diplomatic Adviser to the Interior Minister on 21 April. The Consul-General met the Examining Magistrate in charge of the case on 29 April. Our consular staff in Paris speak regularly on the telephone to French officials and to Mrs. Henderson's French lawyers about the investigation into the death of Mr. Henderson. We will continue to press the French authorities to do all they can to bring Mr. Henderson's murderer to justice.
§ Mr. FallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he or his Ministers have had with(a) Ministers and (b) officials of the French Government at which the investigation into the death in Paris of Mr. Roderick Henderson has been raised. [48865]
§ Mr. FatchettThe matter has not been raised at Ministerial level, but we are active in pressing the French authorities to do all they can to bring Mr. Henderson's murderer to justice.