§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they had any communication on or after 23 November with the Government of Zimbabwe or the England and Wales Cricket Board about the decision to refuse access to the British Broadcasting Corporation and other British sports journalists to the planned England versus Zimbabwe cricket series; and, if so, what action was taken. [HL124]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanOfficials in London and our Embassy in Harare were in close touch with the England and Wales Cricket Board throughout.
On news of the banning of several UK journalists accompanying the England team, my honourable friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Denis MacShane) summoned the Zimbabwean Chargé d' Affairs on 24 November, to convey our strong concern about this attack on press freedom. Our Embassy in Harare also made representations to the Zimbabwean authorities.
The Zimbabwean authorities have now decided to accredit the UK journalists. We remain greatly concerned at the broader restrictions on a free media in Zimbabwe.