HL Deb 17 October 2001 vol 627 c95WA
Lord Clinton-Davis

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the aftermath of the G8 Summit held in Genoa on 20 July, consular officials from other EU countries were able to gain access to their detained nationals earlier than British consular officials. [HL808]

Baroness Amos

We understand that no other EU state was granted access to their detained nationals ahead of British consular officials. However, detainees were held in several widespread locations, so it is impossible to confirm definitively which nationals were seen first on Wednesday, 25 July, when access was finally granted. Our consul visited one detainee in hospital as early as Sunday, 22 July. British consular officials had visited all of our detainees ahead of most other EU states. American officials were the first to gain access to their nationals in the detention centres.

Throughout the night of Wednesday, 25 July, when the detainees were awaiting deportation at the airport, British consular officials provided support to British nationals and to many foreigners, including those from other EU countries, in the absence of their own consular representatives.