§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether on his visit to Libya the Prime Minister will request Colonel Gaddafi to release all political prisoners, abolish the People's Court and the Special Revolutionary Courts, and introduce freedom of the media. [HL2101]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy right honourable friend the Prime Minister's discussions with Colonel Qadhafi focused on international and regional security issues. The issues of political prisoners, the judiciary and the media in Libya were not raised. But as my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary made clear during his meeting with the Libyan Foreign Minister, Abdul Rahman Shalgam, during his visit to the United Kingdom on 9 to 10 February, we are concerned about Libya's human rights record in a number of areas and will be addressing these with its government. To this end a delegation from the Qadhafi Foundation Human Rights Association visited the United Kingdom at our request from 1 to 5 March.