§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was first informed of the MI5 report about the involvement of the Algerian Government, or part of it, in serious human rights violations committed in Algeria. [118926]
§ Mr. HainIt has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on the operations of the security and intelligence agencies. In line with this policy the Government do not reveal what information is held by the Security Service.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Algerian Government, and when, concerning their obligations under international law to undertake full and open investigations of human rights abuses. [118927]
§ Mr. HainI raised this issue personally with the Algerian Prime Minister during my visit to Algiers on 12 April.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the Algerian Government to invite the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance to visit Algeria, with particular reference to the treatment of women relatives of the disappeared in Algeria during recent demonstrations. [118937]
§ Mr. HainI welcome the recent announcement by the Algerian authorities that international NGOs, including Amnesty International, have been given dates to visit. We continue to press the Algerian government to allow access to UN experts. I raised this issue personally with the Algerian Prime Minister during my visit to Algiers on 12 April.