§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation took place between his Department and the Spanish Government prior to the issuing of the international warrant for the arrest of General Pinochet. [56280]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThere was no consultation between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Spanish Government prior to the issuing of the request for a provisional warrant for the arrest of Senator Pinochet.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation took place between his Department and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry concerning General Pinochet prior to 18 October. [56283]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThere was no consultation between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry concerning Senator Pinochet prior to 18 October.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from the Chilean Government since 1 May 1997 concerning General Pinochet. [56282]
82W
§ Mr. Tony LloydWe have received the following representations from the Chilean Government since 1 May 1997 concerning General Pinochet: (i) The Chilean Embassy in London contacted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in September 1998 ahead of Senator Pinochet's visit to request the use of VIP facilities on his arrival at Heathrow Airport; (ii) The Chilean Foreign Minister, Sr. Jose Miguel Insulza, handed over a formal Note protesting the arrest of Senator Pinochet to the British Ambassador in Chile on 17 October 1998. The Chilean Embassy in London also passed a Note making the same points to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 19 October 1998. A second Note was passed to the British Embassy in Santiago on 23 October 1998; (iii) The Chilean Foreign Minister, Sr. Jose Miguel Insulza telephoned my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 17 October 1998. The Chilean Deputy Foreign Minister, Sr. Mariano Fernandez, called on my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on Saturday 24 October.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations took place between his Department and other departments prior to the issuing of the international warrant for the arrest of General Pinochet. [56281]
§ Mr. Tony LloydFCO officials were kept informed of events leading up to the arrest. The only consultation that took place was between the Metropolitan Police and the FCO on the technical question of whether Senator Pinochet would be entitled to diplomatic immunity.