Viscount Buckmasterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps have been taken to trace Mr. Stephen Spencer-Chapman and Mr. Robert Avery, British subjects, employees of Bechtel and experienced motor-cyclists, who disappeared in Saudi Arabia on 20th July 1984 after leaving Dhahran on motorcycles, given that they had two compasses and that they were due back in Dhahran the same evening.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)At the request of Her Majesty's Consul in Saudi Arabia, the Governor of the Eastern Province at once ordered a search through Saudi police, military and internal security forces, including border patrols. Her Majesty's embassy asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to have all possible inquiries made. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office instructed Her Majesty's embassies in neighbouring countries to check with the local authorities in case the men had crossed the borders. Bechtel and Her Majesty's embassy have followed up the leads suggested by the men's families. Unfortunately none of these efforts has produced any trace of the missing men.
In addition, thorough air and ground searches were carried out by Bechtel, assisted by the ARAMCO consortium and the Saudi authorities, from 21st to 27th July. A large area including that of the men's proposed route was searched four or five times, the search extending as far as the fringes of the Empty Quarter. Bechtel checked on all hospitals, police stations, prisons and filling stations. ARAMCO patrols consulted Bedouin tribes in the area.
A member of the Spencer-Chapman family went to Saudi Arabia in November and was assisted by our Consul and by Bechtel. He subsequently wrote a detailed report, copies of which he gave to the next of kin of both men.