§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what(a) equipment, (b) personnel and (c) other assistance his Department provides to other countries for search and rescue operations involving UK citizens who have gone missing; and if he will make a statement. [164297]
§ Mr. MullinForeign and Commonwealth Office Consular staff provide all the assistance they properly can to the families of missing British nationals. They help the families liaise with the local authorities and keep them up to date on developments in searches. Search and rescue operations are usually managed by the host authorities who often meet the costs. If the host authorities will not meet the costs, these would fall to the family of the missing individual or his or her insurance company.