§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will clarify the statement made by the Minister for Defence Procurement on 20 July 1999 (Official Report, col. 806) concerning an announcement to be made by the Minister for the Armed Forces relating to former prisoners of war of the Japanese. [HL4033]
§ Lord GilbertI thank my noble friend for giving me the opportunity to clarify this matter. The Minister for the Armed Forces is not making an announcement on the subject of former prisoners of war of the Japanese and I very much regret any confusion and concern which my inadvertent statement may have caused.