§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning the kidnapping of Elchanan Tannenbaum by Hezbullah. [3806]
§ Mr. BradshawThis Government condemn hostage taking under any circumstances. On 3 May the then Foreign Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) and the then Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson), met the families of the reservist Colonel Tannenbaum kidnapped by Hezbullah on 4 October and the three soldiers kidnapped on 7 October. The Government are doing what they can to help and have raised these cases, and continues to do so, with the relevant countries in the region pressing particularly for 123W access to the hostages for the ICRC. We strongly support all efforts to secure the release of all hostages, particularly efforts led by the United Nations Secretary-General.