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Written Answers
28 JUNE 1982
support for those families bereaved by the death of Hong Kong sailors and servicemen killed fighting for the United Kingdom in the Falklands war.
Mr. Rifkind: Despite tragic losses, such a request would not be appropriate. People in Hong Kong are already aware that contributions may be directed to the South Atlantic fund which of course covers Hong Kong personnel in the task force, who made such a valuable contribution to the success of the operation.
Sidon (Relief and Medical Supplies)
Mr. Marlow asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure access of relief and medical supplies from United Kingdom sources to the port of Sidon.
Mr. Hurd: There were no British supplies on the ship apparently refused access to the port of Sidon recently. We have continued to press the Israeli Government to allow full access to Lebanon for relief and medical supplies.
Walter Fluery
Sir Bernard Braine asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government concerning the case of Walter Kenneth Nelson Fleury, a United Kingdom citizen, aged 23 years, who was abducted by security officials in Buenos Aires on 9 August 1976 and has not been heard of since; what happened following the service of habeas corpus writs by his mother after visiting the British embassy on the same day; what inquiries were made about this case to the Argentine authorities by Her Majesty's Government; on what dates; and with what results...
Mr. Onslow: The next of kin in Argentina of Walter Kenneth Nelson Fleury have hitherto requested that no publicity should be given to this case. We will seek to establish whether this is still their view, although, in present circumstances, there will be difficulties in doing so. I will in any event write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Dr. Douglas Whitehead and Deryck Whitehead
Sir Bernard Braine asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what inquiries have been made by Her Majesty's Government, on what dates, and with what results about the case of Dr. Douglas Gillie Whitehead, born at Berwick-on-Tweed and his brother Deryck Gillie Whitehead, an electrical engineer, both United Kingdom citizens, whose disappearance on the same day in September 1976 from their respective homes in Buenos Aires was reported to the British embassy shortly afterwards.
Mr. Onslow: The next of kin in Argentina of Dr. Douglas Gillie Whitehead and his brother Deryck Gillie Whitehead, who is not a British subject, have hitherto requested that no publicity should be given to this case. We will seek to establish whether this is still their view, although, in present circumstances, there will be difficulties in doing so. I will in any event write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Written Answers
Disappeared Persons (Argentina)
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$240
Sir Bernard Braine asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many appeals for help from the families of the disappeared in Argentina were received by the British Embassy in Buenos Aires between 1974 and April 1982, or direct by his Department in London; in how many instances inquiries resulted in the release of the person or persons concerned;
and how many of these were United Kingdom citizens or Argentines who had a claim to British nationality.
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Mr. Onslow: To provide this information would require very considerable research, and it would in any case be impossible to provide all the details requested, following the closure of our embassy in Buenos Aires. But I am having further inquiries made, and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Sir Bernard Braine asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and other Governments whose nationals were abducted by the Argentinian security forces after 1974, following the successful intervention in 1978 of the King of Spain which secured the prompt release of Spanish citizens so held, with a view to concerted action.
Mr. Onslow: The question of possible concerted representations by British and other Western Governments regarding their nationals who are believed to have been abducted by Argentine security forces has been considered on a number of occasions. This has not hitherto been regarded as likely to be the most effective way of pursuing these cases with the Argentine authorities, but I am willing to consider the matter again in the light of changing circumstances.
Sir Bernard Braine asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in how many cases since 1974 where British citizens and Argentines with joint British nationality who disappeared after abduction by the Argentine security forces Her Majesty's Government have referred the details to outside bodies such as the United Nations working groups on enforced or involuntary disappearances, as has been done by the French and Swedish Governments; and with what result.
Mr. Onslow: To our knowledge, there are no Anglo- Argentine dual nationals who have disappeared after abduction by the Argentine security forces, but if my hon. Friend has any further information on the subject, I shall be glad to discuss it with him as soon as possible.
NORTHERN IRELAND
New University (Steering Group)
Mr. Kilfedder asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish guidelines for the benefit of academic and other staff of the New University of Ulster who are trustees of any property, legacy, endowment, bequest or gift for the purposes of education at the university so as to ensure that there is no infringement of Charter in regard to any connection they may have with the work of the steering group;
(2) whether he is satisfied that a member of the New University of Ulster could undertake membership of the proposed steering committee on possible amalgamation
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