HC Deb 03 February 1988 vol 126 cc636-7W
49. Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are taking to ensure that adequate help is given to British citizens abroad in genuine distress.

Mr. Eggar

Her Majesty's consular staff overseas make every effort to give prompt, sympathetic and effective advice and whatever help they properly can to distressed British nationals seeking assistance.

Demand for consular services continues to rise sharply with nearly 27 million people travelling abroad from the United Kingdom in 1987 compared with only 5.5 million 20 years ago. Both procedures and staffing are kept under constant review to ensure the optimum use of available resources.

The aim of our public education activities, including the wide distribution of the consular leaflet "Get It Right Before You Go", is to explain what consuls can and cannot do and to encourage self-help, wherever possible, so as to enable consular staff to concentrate on cases of genuine distress.