HL Deb 04 February 1999 vol 596 c225WA
Lord Lamont of Lerwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 18 January (WA 88) about the present Home Secretary's visit to Chile in 1966, the Home Secretary took legal advice on whether his visit in 1966 had any bearing on his ability to make decisions on the request for the extradition of General Pinochet. [HL820]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Yes. When it became clear that the Home Secretary would be called upon to take a decision in the Pinochet case he was, of course, conscious that he should approach the decision in a completely unbiased way and did so. He also took advice from the Home Office Legal Adviser and Counsel and satisfied himself that his visit was not relevant to the decision on extradition which he faced. The Home Secretary is satisfied that it was entirely proper for him to proceed to take the decision.