§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what translation facilities were available to the medical team he appointed to examine General Pinochet; and if they were available throughout the medical examination; [106010]
(2) what were the linguistic qualifications of the medical team he appointed to examine General Pinochet. [105919]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 20 January 2000]: Dr. Wyke is a native speaker of Spanish who came to this country after completing a first degree at the Autonomous National University of Mexico. Professor Lees speaks Spanish fluently to a professional standard; he makes frequent visits to Spain and other Spanish speaking countries to give university lectures, in Spanish, on his area of medical expertise.
The medical examination of Senator Pinochet was accordingly conducted in Spanish.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has held with the Government of Chile concerning the Spanish request for the extradition of General Pinochet; and if he will place correspondence relating to such discussions in the Library. [106017]
20W
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 20 January 2000]: I have not personally discussed this case, or corresponded about it, with the Government of Chile, or any of its representatives.
Some of my ministers and officials have had cause to do so. They have had strict regard to the fact that I am exercising a quasi-judicial function under the Extradition Act 1989. It is not our practice to make publicly available the contents of correspondence with other governments. The details of contacts of this nature are confidential to the governments concerned.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the terms of reference he gave the medical team he appointed to examine General Pinochet. [106007]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 20 January 2000]: The medical team was asked to undertake the examinations and procedures it judged to be desirable in order to provide me with a fully comprehensive report on the state of Senator Pinochet's health.
The team was also asked, without in any way intending to limit the comprehensive scope of the commission, to advise whether there were any aspects of Senator Pinochet's state of health which, separately or together, would suggest that he is not at present fit, or is likely to become unfit, to stand trial in Spain. Particular attention was drawn to Senator Pinochet's ability to follow a line of questioning, to recall events, some of which took place as long ago as the 1970s, and to give coherent evidence.
The team was asked to advise on the extent to which the subjection of Senator Pinochet to a criminal trial would itself be likely to affect his health.
To the extent to which any of the contents of the team's report were to be influenced by observation of Senator Pinochet's conduct and manner, advice was also sought on the extent to which that conduct and manner were capable of being consciously influenced by the Senator himself.