Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress the Royal Military Police have made in respect of Operation BUTE; and on what date he expects that investigation to conclude.

The Royal Military Police continue to investigate Katrice Lee's disappearance from Paderborn in Germany in 1981. Over 11,500 documents have been registered onto the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System. Each of these documents is being reviewed, and over 2,000 investigative actions have so far been generated and followed up. The Royal Military Police are working hard to eliminate persons of interest. As the investigation is still under way, I cannot comment any further on precise details, including when it might be completed. However, Royal Military Police Liaison Officers remain in contact with Katrice's family to ensure that they are kept fully informed of developments.