§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many deaths of British citizens abroad his Department is aware of in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThere is no requirement for the death of a British national overseas to be registered at a British consulate. Many such deaths are not reported. The numbers of deaths overseas in circumstances requiring the assistance of British consular officials are available only for the past three years. They are:
number 1987 751 1988 833 1989 852 Some of these deaths were registered at British consular offices. The total numbers of deaths of British citizens registered by British consular officers during the period under reference were: 684W
number 1985 1,052 1986 1,231 1987 1,295 1988 1,193 1989 1,029
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what procedures are followed by his Department to assist relatives of British citizens who have died abroad;
(2) if he will review the procedures followed by his Department to assist relatives of British citizens who have died abroad.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThere are no set procedures. Each case is dealt with as the circumstances demand. Consular officers provide all the help they properly can. They have no powers to undertake inquiries of a police nature. Their help is normally restricted to ensuring that the next-of-kin is informed, assisting relatives and friends in organising the repatriation of the remains or arranging local burial or cremation, obtaining information from the local authorities and giving any other general assistance they can.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department takes to accurately record the cause of death abroad of British holiday-makers.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThere is no requirement for the death of a British national overseas to be registered at a British consulate. Many such deaths are not reported. Consular registers record the fact that a death has taken place. There is no requirement under the regulations for the cause of death to be entered on death certificates.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department takes to ensure that official reports by foreign authorities on the deaths of British citizens in European Community countries are received by relatives in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. WaldegraveOfficial reports on such deaths received by consular officers are made available direct to relatives in the United Kingdom or to Her Majesty's coroners when an inquest is being held.