§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Vietnam regarding the treatment of Christians in that country; and if he will make a statement. [73637]
§ Mr. FatchettWe are deeply concerned about reports of religious persecution in Vietnam. We have repeatedly, with our EU partners made representations to the Vietnamese government about human rights. In June last year the British Ambassador in Hanoi handed over a list of prisoners of conscience, urging their release. These included many imprisoned for exercising their religion freedoms. I raised the issue with the Vietnamese Ambassador in January. We shall continue to press the Vietnamese to improve respect for human rights.
At the forthcoming UN Commission on Human Rights, the UK will give its full support to a resolution highlighting our concern about religious intolerance wherever it occurs.