FORMER Tory leader William Hague yesterday vowed to step up an inquiry into the treatment of a senior Army officer who claims he suffered race discrimination and harassment.

Lieutentant Colonel Surinder Saggar, who now lives near Richmond, North Yorkshire, complained to his commanding officer about the conduct of men serving under him with the Royal Army Medical Corps in Cyprus, in 1999.

The case was referred to the Army board and then to an industrial tribunal, but Lt Col Saggar and his family were shocked when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) submitted evidence suggesting that the Race Relations Act could not be applied to soldiers serving on sovereign bases outside the European Community.

As a result, the chairman of the tribunal, which was held in Thornaby last month, was forced to rule that the case could not be dealt with under British law.

The MoD was ordered to pay Lt Col Saggar's £9,000 legal costs, but his family - outraged that his career and character had been destroyed by events in Cyprus - have called on Richmond MP Mr Hague to take up their case with the Government.

Mr Hague has now submitted four Parliamentary questions to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon for clarification of the legal technicality which suggests soldiers outside the territorial waters of Britain and the European Community are not protected by UK race relations laws.

A spokesman for Mr Hague said: "It is important to clear up where the MoD stands in relation to the application of British law on the sovereign subjects serving in these areas and these questions will help us do that. Mr Hague is determined to pursue these matters further."

Leeds barrister Simon Reevell is also considering whether there are grounds for Lt Col Saggar, who has served in Bosnia, Ireland and the Gulf, to appeal. Lt Col Saggar's family say they are adamant "to see justice done".