§ Mr. Nelsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for the release of Mr. John Smith, currently serving a prison sentence in Iraq.
§ Mr. Waltersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the prospects for the release of Mr. Donald Hagger currently serving a prison sentence in Iraq.
§ Mr. LuceWe have raised these cases regularly with the Iraqi Government and they are fully aware of our deep concern. During my visit to Baghdad in November I repeated our appeals to Iraqi Ministers to release the two prisoners on humanitarian grounds. Unfortunately, we have received no assurance that either prisoner will be released in the near future. We shall, however, continue to take every opportunity to press for their release.