§ Andy KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from Laos about the persecution of Christians there; and if he will make a statement. [6395]
§ Mr. BradshawThe British Government are aware of reports of the detention and mis-treatment of Christians in Laos, a country where all group meetings without previous official sanction are illegal. We regularly raise our concerns about the situation of those imprisoned for their beliefs with the Lao Government: most recently with the Deputy Foreign Minister when he visited the UK in June.