HC Deb 29 July 1988 vol 138 cc719-21W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British people are in prison abroad; in which countries they are being held; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last five years.

Mrs. Chalker

According to the most recent survey, there were, in early June 1988, to the best of our knowledge, 1,221 British citizens detained overseas. A breakdown by country is given in the table. Equivalent figures for the last five years, are not readily available, and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.

British Citizens Detained Overseas: June 1988
(Total 1,221)
Country Number
Algeria 1
Argentina 1
Australia 8
Austria 3
Bahrain 1
Bangladesh 3
Belgium 30
Botswana 1
Brazil 3
Bulgaria 1
Canada 5
Cyprus 5
Denmark 14
Ecuador 1
Egypt 2
Finland 3
France 153
Germany, West 134
Greece 29
Guyana 1
Iceland 2
India 24
Indonesia 3
Iran 2
Iraq 1
Ireland 7
Israel 5
Italy 34
Jamaica 24
Japan 8
Jerusalem 3
Kenya 4
Korea, South 2
Kuwait 3
Luxembourg 4
Malaysia 2
Malta 4
Mexico 5
Morocco 4
Mozambique 1
Nepal 8
Netherlands 15
New Zealand 3
Nigeria 1
Norway 31
Oman 8
Pakistan 2
Papua New Guinea 1
Peru 3
Philippines 1
Portugal 37
Qatar 3
Saudi Arabia 8
South Africa 20
Spain 270
Sri Lanka 2
Swaziland 1
Sweden 39
Switzerland 50
Taiwan 2
Thailand 17
Trinidad and Tobago 1
Tunisia 2
Turkey 2
Turks and Caicos Islands 2
United Arab Emirates 12
United States of America 122
USSR 2

Country Number
Yugoslavia 1
Zimbabwe 14
Total 1,221