§ 77. Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will approach the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics with a view to securing the release of Rudolf Hess from Spandau Prison in West Berlin.
§ Mr. LuardHer Majesty's Government will continue their efforts to secure four-Power agreement to the release of Hess. A further approach to the Soviet Government is certainly not excluded.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on 21W the Christmas Eve visit to Herr Rudolf Hess by relatives, setting out in particular the nine conditions which those relatives were required to accept before being allowed to see the prisoner, and describing as far as he is able Herr Hess's present medical condition.
§ Mr. LuardHerr Rudolf Hess was visited by his wife and son on Christmas Eve. They stayed for thirty minutes. During their visit they were bound by the Spandau rules governing visits to prisoners. These rules, in common with the other prison regulations, are confidential. Frau Hess and Herr Wolf Hess subsequently spent three-quarters of an hour with the four prison governors and the Senior British Medical Officer at the British Military Hospital discussing Rudolf Hess's condition. As the hon. Member will be aware, Rudolf Hess has been suffering from a stomach ulcer, which continues to respond to treatment.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the four Powers responsible for the custody of Herr Rudolf Hess have expressed objection to his release on humanitarian grounds; what reasons have been given for such objection; what recent representations he has made with a view to overcoming them; and if Her Majesty's Government for its part is prepared to release Herr Hess forthwith.
§ Mr. LuardThe Soviet Government have refused their consent to approaches made by the three Western Powers for Hess's release on humanitarian grounds. The last approach was made in early summer 1969. The terms of the reply are confidential.
As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Surbiton earlier today, Her Majesty's Government will continue their efforts to secure four-Power agreement to the release of Hess.
§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the health, and future treatment, of Herr Rudolf Hess.
§ Mr. LuardHerr Rudolf Hess continues to undergo treatment at the British Military Hospital in Berlin, and we cannot at present forecast how long he will need to remain there.