HC Deb 20 June 2002 vol 387 c530W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many children have been abducted from the UK since 1 January. [62780]

Ms Rosie Winterton

Since 1 January this year, a total of 75 cases have been reported to the central authorities, under the Hague convention. The breakdown is as follows69 cases in England and Wales, involving 116 children; two cases in Northern Ireland involving three children; and four cases in Scotland involving five children.

For countries not under the Hague convention, a total of 37 cases, involving 38 children have been reported to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.