HL Deb 18 January 1988 vol 492 cc9-10

3.1 p.m.

Viscount Buckmaster

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking in the case of the two Birmingham girls reportedly forced into marriage in the Yemen Arab Republic.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Glenarthur)

My Lords, our embassy at Sana'a is in contact with the Yemeni authorities and members of the families. We understand that the girls wish to return to the United Kingdom with their husbands. The Home Office is considering applications from the girls' husbands for settlement here.

Viscount Buckmaster

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that helpful reply. Can be tell the House why there appears to have been some delay in the granting of visas to the husbands of the two girls? Secondly, will be accept that the Yemeni ambassador in London has been consistently helpful and co-operative in this difficult and delicate matter?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, as regards the second part of the noble Viscount's supplementary question, we understand that the Yemeni Government are keen that the family should reach an amicable solution to this affair. They are co-operating fully with our embassy and the families concerned. Full consideration by the Home Office is needed and that will take some weeks.

Lord Mellish

My Lords, it is a funny position when we hear that it is a forced marriage. The girls have been compelled to marry the wretched characters, whoever they may be, and now the men want to live in England. What is so forced about that?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, it is not for me to speak about customs in the Yemen as regards marriage. However, fathers generally arrange marriages for their daughters and, as with a number of other Moslem and African countries, it is the Yemeni custom for the bride's father to receive what is known as bride wealth.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs

My Lords, is it not the case that this matter was brought to the attention of the Foreign Office as much as two months ago by my right honourable friend the Shadow Home Secretary, from whose constituency the two girls come? Can the Minister assure the House that there will be no lengthy impediment as regards their return home, which is clearly what the two young women wish?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, we have known about the case of these two girls for some time. To say that we have taken insufficient action or have not acted timely enough is overstating the matter. Advice to the families is determined by the girls' dual nationality and international convention prevents official intervention when the person concerned is resident in the country of second nationality. That point is clearly stated in the note affixed to all British passports.

I understand the interest in this case. Essentially it is a family affair, with the possible recourse to legal action, but we always seek to help informally.

Lord Kilbracken

My Lords, does the noble Lord know at what age the girls were sent to the Yemen by their father? Was it not the case that their father sent them to his native country because he wanted them to be brought up in accordance with the traditions of that country, which include marriages of this kind, and that the girls now wish to return to this country with their husbands?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, with their parents' permission, the girls were taken to the Yemen by an uncle in 1980 when they were 14 and 16 respectively.

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