HC Deb 05 November 1975 vol 899 cc232-4W
Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions on which he has made public protests to foreign Governments concerning the carrying out of sentences for conviction of offences against the law since he took office in April 1974.

Mr. Ennals

My right hon. Friend has made representations, which have been made public, at the time or subsequently, on such matters, as follows: In May 1974 to the South African Government about flogging penalties imposed on a number of Ovambos;

In September 1974 to the Government of the German Democratic Republic for clemency for Miss Susan Ballantine and Mr. Alan Watson;

On a number of occasions since May 1975 to the Algerian Government about United Kingdom citizens sentenced for drug offences;

In June 1975 to the Ugandan Government for clemency for Mr. Hills;

In August and September 1975 to the Spanish Government in connection with death sentences on 11 Spanish citizens and the subsequent execution of 5 of them.

Her Majesty's Government have made frequent representations to the Chilean Government, appealing for the release of prisoners convicted simply for their political beliefs, and have also frequently made clear to the illegal régime in Rhodesia our condemnation of heavy sentences, including death sentences on Rhodesian Africans.

Mr. Tebbit

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the cases in which his protest to Warsaw Pact countries concerning the carrying out of sentences against the laws of such countries have led to acts of clemency.

Mr. Ennals

There have been no cases in which my right hon. Friend has acted in the manner described by the hon. Member. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and I appealed to the Government of the German Democratic Republic in September 1974 for clemency for Miss Susan Ballantine and Mr. Alan Watson. They were released some months later. On occasion representations and expressions of concern to Governments have been made privately.