§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the release of British hostages held in Beirut.
§ Mr. WaldegraveWe resumed diplomatic relations with Iran on 27 September. Both sides felt that our outstanding bilateral problems, including that of the British hostages in Lebanon, would be more easily resolved with diplomatic relations. Iran, which played a decisive and helpful role in the release of Mr. Brian Keenan in August, has undertaken publicly to use her humanitarian influence to achieve the release of hostages in Lebanon. We shall urge the Iranian Government to persevere in their efforts until the British hostages, Mr. Jack Mann, Mr. John McCarthy and Mr. Terry Waite, are freed.