§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department will seek to interview the employee of Messrs Costains who was in detention at the prison in Rumais, Oman, at the same time as Mr. Robin Walsh was detained.
§ Mr. LuceAs I indicated on 5 July at columns295–6 we have no knowledge of the detention of any employee of Messrs Costains.
Mr. Cambell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date and at what time the embassy in Oman was informed of Mr. Robin Walsh's arrest.
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§ Mr. LuceHer Majesty's embassy in Oman was informed of Mr. Walsh's detention on 6 July 1983 at about noon.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about who saw Mr. Robin Walsh on the morning of 8 July 1983; and what his condition was at the time.
§ Mr. LuceThe report about the circumstances in which Mr. Robin Walsh was seen on the morning of 8 July has been made available to Mr. Walsh's solcitors, who do not wish those circumstances to be made public. I do not think it would be right for me to say more without the family's express permission.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if Mr. Robin Walsh was tried prior to his death in Oman;
(2) what information he has as to the process in Oman of substantiating guilt in the case of Mr. Robin Walsh.
§ Mr. LuceOur information is that Mr. Walsh's case was conducted under authorised Omani procedures.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information he has about the treatment received by and the support given to Mr. Robin Walsh in Rumais prison on Wednesday 6 July; Thursday 7 July and Friday 8 July 1983;
(2) if Mr. Robin Walsh was denied food and water during daylight hours whilst he was detained in Rumais prison, Oman.
§ Mr. LuceAs my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. Whitney) stated on 12 July, British nationals detained in Omani prisons generally do not receive special treatment during Ramadhan. However in the case of Mr. Walsh we have been assured by the Omani Government, that he was not denied food and water during daylight hours.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what forms the punishment of Mr. Robin Walsh took during his detention; and if he was held in a punishment cell in Rumais prison, Oman.
§ Mr. LuceOur information is that Mr. Walsh was not punished during his detention nor was he held in a punishment cell.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the time at which Mr. Robin Walsh died in Rumais prison, Oman.
§ Mr. LuceThe Omani police report which gives the time of Mr. Walsh's death has been passed to his family's solicitors. I do not think it would be right for me to say more without the family's express permission.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Omani Government forwarded to the British embassy in Oman a copy of the local death certificate in the case of Mr. Robin Walsh.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has 318W information as to whether any medical examination was made of Mr. Robin Walsh to see whether he was fit enough to withstand treatment in Rumais prison.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether an autopsy was carried out on the body of Mr. Robin Walsh in Oman.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Embassy in Oman received a copy of the local death certificate in relation to the remains of Mr. Robin Walsh.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports of the inquest in Oman into the death of Mr. Robin Walsh and of the investigations by the Royal Omani police have been forwarded to the British Embassy.
§ Mr. LuceThere is no provision under the Omani legal system for a coroner's inquest. A full investigation was carried out by the Royal Omani police and a copy of their report into the circumstances of Mr. Walsh's death was sent to Her Majesty's Embassy. A copy has been sent to the solicitors acting for Mr. Walsh's family. I do not think it would be right for me to say more without the family's express permission.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Mr. Robin Walsh was legally advised as to his defence or legal rights in Oman by consular officials.
§ Mr. LuceNo. Consular officials are not qualified to give legal advice. In the event, Mr. Walsh did not seek contact with members of Her Majesty's embassy before he was imprisoned.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the circumstances of the treatment of Mr. Robin Walsh in prison were conveyed to his Department orally or in writing.
§ Mr. LuceInformation was conveyed orally to Her Majesty's embassy at the time and it subsequently received the police report that I mentioned earlier. The information received was sent by telex and by letter to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office together with a copy of the police report.
§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what inquiries Her Majesty's Government's representatives in Oman made regarding the part played by General Sir Timothy Creasey in relation to the arrest and detention of Mr. Robin Walsh; and in particular what information they sought regarding (a) who ordered the imprisonment and (b) who signed the detention order.
§ Mr. LuceDetails of inter-governmental exchanges are confidential, but I have noted that the embassy for the Sultanate of Oman in London has stated that the allegation that Sir Timothy Creasey ordered the imprisonment of Mr. Walsh is completely without foundation and that Mr. Walsh was arrested by the appropriate Omani authorities.