§ 76. Sir E. Bullusasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if he will take the necessary steps to secure reasonable compensation and expenses for Seaman Brian Yates, of Kingsbury, N.W.9, who has just been released after nearly four months imprisonment in Belgium, the details of which are known to him; and if he will refer the case to the European Human Rights Commission.
§ Mr. William RodgersSeaman Brian Yates was arrested in Belgium under an extradition treaty between Belgium and Italy. As I told the hon. Gentleman on 12th February, following representations by our Embassies in Brussels and Rome, the Italian Government decided to withdraw their application for extradition and as a consequence Seaman Brian Yates was set free on 7th February. In these circumstances, I do not think that there are any grounds for seeking compensation or charging the legal expenses to public funds. Nor do I consider that this is an appropriate case for Her12W Majesty's Government to refer to the European Commission of Human Rights.—Vol. 758, c. 267–8.]