HL Deb 06 June 1996 vol 572 cc135-6WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consult other European Union countries with a view to requesting the authorities in Vietnam to allow a joint visit by officials from European Union embassies in Hanoi to Buddhist prisoners, including the Venerable Thich Hai Tang.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

At the present time Her Majesty's Government have no such plans.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ask the Vietnamese authorities what reply they made to the three requests in the appeal dated 7th March 1996 to the Communist Party leadership by Nguyen Dinh Ky by the 84 year-old father of Venerable Thich Hai Tang, who is reported to be seriously ill in prison.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

We follow the case of Thich Hai Tang but do not believe it is for us to follow up the specific request made by his father. We continue to raise human rights issues with the Vietnamese Government; most recently the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right honourable Member for Richmond and Barnes, did so when he visited Hanoi in April.