§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make representations to the Government of El Salvador on behalf of the 125 political prisoners held in Tecla prison, La Libertad, El Salvador, to ask the Government to observe article 5 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
§ Mr. RidleyI have no information about the prisoners referred to by the hon. Member. We have nevertheless made it plait that we look to the Government of El Salvador to take all possible steps to protect the Salvadorean people from violations of basic human rights. We have no formal locus standi to intercede with the Salvadorean Government on matters concerning its citizens.
Mr. D. E. 'Thomasasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose that a delegation from the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva should visit El Salvador, in view of the murder of 18,494 civilians there between 1 January and 5 April 1981.
§ Mr. RidleyWe have already—on 11 March 1981—supported a resolution passed at the Human Rights Commission in Geneva, caling for the appointment of a special representative to investigate allegations of human
76Wregistered as unemployed in (a) Wolverhampton and (b) the West Midlands; how many have been unemployed for over a year; and what are the comparable figures for May 1979 and May 1980.
§ Mr. Peter Morrison[pursuant to his reply, 22 June 1981]: The numbers registered as unemployed are analysed by age and by duration of unemployment in January, April, July and October. Following is the information for April in each of the years 1979, 1980 and 1981.
rights abuse. We would not expect to take any further action until the representative, Professor J. A. Pastor Ridruejo, has made his report.