§ Mr. HowardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the basis for his oral statement of 19 January 1999,Official Report, column 705, that Senator Pinochet could not be permitted to return to Chile without the Government defying the courts and ending due legal process. [67311]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Mr. Loughton) asked whether it would not have been better to send Senator Pinochet to face due process in Chile. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's reply was on the basis that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary issued an Authority to Proceed in respect of the Spanish request and that this has been passed to Bow Street Magistrates court to consider 149W committal. Issues relating to state immunity are currently being heard by the House of Lords. Due legal process is being followed.
§ Mr. TrendTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 19 January 1999, Official Report, column 701, if he will indicate the location in the Official Report of the answer to which he referred. [67633]
§ Mr. Tony LloydI am pleased to have this opportunity to set the record straight. I was incorrect in my belief that the answer was in theOfficial Report. I have written to the hon. Member to apologise for this inadvertent mistake.
§ Mr. TrendTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department was first contacted by Scotland Yard concerning the question of the diplomatic immunity status of Senator Pinochet. [67625]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe Metropolitan Police contacted the FCO about Senator Pinochet's diplomatic immunity on 16 October.
§ Mr. TrendTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department was asked for help by the Chilean Embassy in London in arranging a flight to Santiago for Senator Pinochet in the week beginning 12 October 1998. [67634]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe Chilean Ambassador telephoned the FCO on 15 October to discuss Senator Pinochet's travel arrangements. FCO officials referred the Ambassador to British Airways. On 16 October, the Ambassador informed the FCO that he had secured a seat for Senator Pinochet on the British Airways flight leaving for Santiago on 20 October.
§ Mr. TrendTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department received from the Chilean Embassy on 16 October 1998. [67631]
§ Mr. Tony LloydThe Chilean Ambassador telephoned the FCO on 16 October to follow up a conversation the previous day about Senator Pinochet's travel arrangements. The Ambassador informed officials that he had secured a seat for Senator Pinochet on a British Airways flight leaving for Santiago on 20 October.