HC Deb 01 May 1991 vol 190 c190W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received concerning the three British journalists, Nick Della Casa, Rosanna Della Casa, and Charles Maxwell, who have been reported as missing in Iraq since 23 March.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We are in frequent contact with the families of Mr. and Mrs. Della Casa and Mr. Maxwell and have received numerous inquiries from their many friends and media colleagues, including the BBC.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action has been taken by his Department in any attempt to trace the three British journalists, Nick Della Casa, Rosanna Della Casa, and Charles Maxwell, who have been reported as missing in Iraq since 23 March;

(2) what information he has concerning the numbers of British journalists, relief workers, or civilians who have been reported as missing in Iraq since the cessation of hostilities; and what action is being taken to trace them.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Since early April, our embassies in the region have been making inquiries about the missing people. We have circulated their descriptions widely, and have asked staff of the Ministry of Defence, relief organisations, British media and the International Committee of the Red Cross to report anything they hear. Iraqi representatives in London and Riyadh have been given their details and asked to check whether their authorities know of their whereabouts.

The only other British national known to be missing is a freelance journalist, Mr. Stephen Paul Kabos, last reported in Jordan. Similar inquiries have been instituted to trace him.