To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he, or any Ministers or officials in his Department, met or communicated with the deputy Foreign Minister of Iraq, Mr. Nizar Hamdoun, during his visit to the United Kingdom on 8–9 March.

I raised the case of Mrs. Parish and Mr. Bazoft when I met Nizar Hamdoun on 8 March. I expressed our serious concern for the two and emphasised the importance of a fair trial. Mr. Hamdoun took note of these points and emphasised the sensitivity of these cases for the Iraqi authorities. Similar representations were made to Mr. Hamdoun at a senior official level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent his actions in respect of Iraq have been influenced by his assessment of the likelihood that Mr. Bazoft was involved in espionage.

We have seen no proof that Mr. Bazoft was a spy. Our concern in his case has throughout been entirely humanitarian.