§ Mr. James Hamiltonasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will make a statement regarding the arrest of British subjects in Saudi Arabia, especially the arrest of Mr. William Sims, a constitutent of the hon. Member for Bothwell.
§ Mr. HurdThere are 31 British subjects in detention in Saudi Arabia, 15 for alcohol offences. Mr. Sims was arrested on 16 April along with a companion after a party in Al-Khobar.
At a hearing on 28 April he was sentenced to 80 strokes of the cane for an offence against the law on alcohol. He is expected to return to this country in a few days. He and other detainees have been receiving normal consular assistance.