HC Deb 14 September 2004 vol 424 cc1547-8W
Norman Lamb

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2004,Official Report, column 1656W, on Nicholas Baker, what progress has been made in the case of Mr. Nicholas Baker; what discussions on the case the Department has had with the Japanese Government over the last four months; and what further steps have been taken. [188337]

Mr. Mullin

Mr. Baker's appeal is currently ongoing in the Japanese Courts.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has discussed Mr. Baker's case with the Japanese authorities on a number of occasions over the last four months, at both ministerial and official level, most recently in August.

We will continue to raise Mr. Baker's case with the Japanese authorities at every appropriate opportunity. We remain in touch with Mr. Baker and his family about his case and will inform them immediately of any developments.