§ Lord MELCHETTasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many British citizens suspected, charged or convicted of criminal offences were being held in prison outside the United Kingdom by each foreign country at 1st June 1979, and what is the range of the sentences being served by these British citizens in each country.
§ Lord CARRINGTONThe following table contains information in reply to the Question:
1795WA
Country Number of UK Citizens detained on Criminal Charges (includes Column 2) Range of Sentences Angola 7 16–30 years. Argentina 3 Awaiting trial—22 years. Austria 9 Awaiting trial—9 years. Belgium 24 1 month—5 years. Bolivia 1 Awaiting trial. Bulgaria 2 3½ years—3 years 7 months. Chile 1 3 years + 1 day. Cuba 2 Awaiting trial—7 years. Denmark 12 6 months—14 years. Egypt 3 Awaiting trial—15 years. Finland 2 8 months—3 years. France 59 3½ months—10 years. Federal Republic of Germany 60 3 months—life. Greece 18 1 month—life. Indonesia 1 12 months. Iran 1 Awaiting trial. Iraq 2 Awaiting trial—life. Italy 18 2–10 years. Lebanon 2 Awaiting trial—12 months. Luxembourg 1 5 years. Mexico 5 Awaiting trial—7 years. Morocco 6 2 months—30 years. Netherlands 16 4 months—4 years. Norway 5 Awaiting trial—6 months. Peru 2 Awaiting trial. Qatar 1 18 months. Saudi Arabia 19 Awaiting trial—8 months. South Africa 43 6 months—22 years. Spain 54 6 months 1 day—11 years. Sweden 14 2 months—4 years. Switzerland 12 2–12 years. Syria 7 Awaiting trial—3 years. Thailand 9 18 months—20 years. Turkey 6 30 years. Uruguay 1 Awaiting trial. USA 18 Awaiting trial—life. Yugoslavia 5 2–4 years.