Bahrain

HC Deb 12 June 1996 vol 279 cc196-7W

34. Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Government of Bahrain to discuss human rights in that country; and if he will make a statement. [30878]

Mr. Hanley

Human rights issues have been discussed at ministerial or official levels on numerous occasions, and will be raised again during my visit this month.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom and Bahrain. [32246]

Mr. Hanley

Bahrain is a close ally and under our 1971 treaty of friendship there is good co-operation in all fields.

I shall be visiting Bahrain myself next week to discuss a wide range of issues with the Bahraini Government.

Mr. Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent representations he has received relating to the matter of the detention in Bahrain of the wife of Mr. John Paul Goostrey; [32248]

(2) what action he has taken to date to assist Mr. John Paul Goostrey in the matter of the detention of his wife in Bahrain. [32245]

Mr. Hanley

Mr. Goostrey's wife, a Bahraini citizen, is not in detention in Bahrain, but her family have obtained a court injunction preventing her from leaving the country. She is applying to the court for this decision to be overturned. The British embassy is in regular contact with Mr. Goostrey and his wife and will continue to provide all the help that it can.

Mr. Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Bahraini ambassador in London about the matter of the detention in Bahrain of the wife of Mr. John Paul Goostrey. [32249]

Mr. Hanley

None, but I plan to discuss the matter with our ambassador on my visit to Bahrain in the near future.

Mr. Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the number of British citizens whose spouses are citizens of Bahrain; and what advice he would give to such individuals about visiting Bahrain. [32247]

Mr. Hanley

We do not maintain records of foreign spouses of British nationals.

There is no advice particular to such individuals, although they have access to our current travel advice on Bahrain.