asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) on whose instructions, and for what purpose, Mr. Robert Fisk, Belfast correspondent of The Times, was questioned by a member of the staff of the British Embassy in Dublin; who was present with the official; and if he will ensure that officials of British embassies in foreign countries make clear to British subjects whom they are questioning the reasons for the questions;(2) what is the nationality of the member of the staff of the British Embassy in Dublin who interviewed Mr. Robert Fisk; how long he has been a member of the staff at that embassy; and what are his rank and duties.
The Head of Chancery of the British Embassy in Dublin, who is a British subject and an established member of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service, saw Mr. Fisk, on instructions from Her Majesty's Government, in the evening of Thursday 6th February at his hotel in Dublin. He instructed Mr. Fisk to surrender official documents, the property of Her Majesty's Government, which were understood to be in his possession. This action arose from a statement made by Mr. Fisk in the course of conversation with a British Government official in Dublin earlier that day. This action and the reasons for it were explained to The Times newspaper in London the same evening.