HL Deb 15 April 1999 vol 599 cc134-5WA
Lord Lamont of Lerwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Williams of Mostyn on 29 March (WA 10) about the Home Secretary's visit to Chile in 1966 stating that "to the best of his recollection" the Home Secretary had never met Salvador Allende, whether he will now consult Peter Geldard, quoted in the Mail on Sunday of 21 March, who stated that the Home Secretary did meet Salvador Allende; and whether they will clarify how this confusion has arisen; and [HL1855]

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 29 March (WA 10) why in view of the use of the words "to the best of his recollection", the Home Secretary had not met Salvador Allende, the Home Office issued a categorical denial on Sunday 21 March, carried in the Daily Telegraph of 22 March, that "he did not meet Allende"; and [HL1856]

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 29 March (WA 10) that the Home Secretary had to the best of his recollection not met Salvador Allende, whether the Home Secretary informed those from whom he took legal advice about his visit to Chile and its relevance to the Pinochet case; and whether he informed them there was a possibility that he had met Salvador Allende. [HL1857]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The Home Secretary has already given an account of his recollections of his visit to Chile in 1966 in my earlier replies to the noble Lord.