General Pinochet (Hansard, 9 February 1999)

§ Lord Williams of Mostyn

An estimated twelve thousand people have written to the Prime Minister, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the Home Office about the case of Senator Pinochet, either supporting his extradition to Spain or his return to Chile. It is not usual practice to provide the names of individual correspondents unless they have agreed to publication.

Up to 31 January 1999, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister had received seven letters from Members of both Houses of Parliament, of which four supported Senator Pinochet's return to Chile. Other correspondence was largely passed on to the Home Office or Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is included in their total estimated figures.

Up to 31 January 1999, the Home Office had received 226 letters about Senator Pinochet from members of both Houses of Parliament. Fifteen of these supported or covered letters from constituents who supported Senator Pinochet's return to Chile. The Home Office had received an estimated 10,000 letters and petitions from people writing from the United Kingdom and abroad, of which around 1,000 supported Senator Pinochet's return to Chile. One of the petitions received by the Home Office contained an estimated 100,000 signatures from Chilean citizens supporting Senator Pinochet's return to Chile.

Up to 31 January 1999, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had received 44 letters from Members of both Houses of Parliament, of which two supported Senator Pinochet's return to Chile. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office had received an estimated 2,000 letters and petitions from people writing from the United Kingdom and abroad, of which around 100 letters supported Senator Pinochet's return to Chile.