To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Chinese Government on the assault in prison of Chen Guangcheng; and whether the Government are continuing to urge the Chinese Government to release him. (153463)

We monitor the case of Chen Guangcheng very closely, and have raised his case repeatedly with the Chinese Government, both bilaterally and through the EU. Following reports that Mr. Guangcheng was beaten in Linyi prison on 16 June, the UK supported an EU demarche on his case on 2 July. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, raised the case most recently during his visit to Beijing in August. We will continue to push for progress on his case at every available opportunity.