Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will authorise the release of case files relating to the investigation of the disappearance of Katrice Lee to her family; and if he will make a statement.

Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Katrice Lee's family. The Royal Military Police continue to investigate Katrice's disappearance from Paderborn in Germany in 1981. As the investigation, known as Operation Bute, is still underway, I am unable to comment further on progress at this time. The original case files form part of this investigation; as such they can be considered for disclosure only when the investigation has been concluded. Liaison officers from the Royal Military Police remain in contact with Katrice's family to ensure that they are kept up to date about the investigation's progress.