§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West,Official Report, 22 October, column 55, he will set out when and through what channels the representations to the Chinese Government to which he refers, were made; and when and through what channels the response was received.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydRepresentations were made by the British embassy in Peking to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 25 August, and were followed up bilaterally in New York. A formal Chinese response was delivered to the embassy in Peking by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 27 August.
§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will urgently consider providing the telephone and postal concessionary facilities for the hostages in Iraq and their families in the United Kingdom that are provided by some other western European states; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe are already helping. We have approached British Telecom. From 1 November it will reduce by half the cost of calls to Iraq and give every assistance to families with large bills to pay. We are setting up a PO box arrangement in London for relatives to use. We shall continue to look for ways to reduce the burden on families.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made to assist the families of United Kingdom citizens detained in Iraq to communicate with those who are detained.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 22 October 1990]: We are doing everything possible to help families stay in touch. I refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the answer I have given his other question today. We have also approached British Telecom and it has halved the cost of a five-minute call to Baghdad.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will permit the families of United Kingdom citizens detained in Iraq to communicate with those who are detained by means of the diplomatic bag.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 22 October 1990]: We are actively looking at all possible ways to help relatives. As I announced on 24 October, we are setting up a PO box in London to which letters can be sent. Our embassy in Baghdad will accept mail for postage in London.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange for letters, books, clothes and other articles to be sent from the United Kingdom by relatives and friends of British citizens held in Iraq by British diplomatic bags; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd[holding answer 22 October 1990]: We are actively exploring all possible ways to help relatives. As I announced on 24 October, we are setting up a PO box in London to which letters can be sent.