§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure that families of British subjects whose relatives die in countries such as Saudi Arabia are speedily and accurately informed of the cause and manner of death.
§ Mr. WhitneyOur consular officers abroad are aware of the need to notify next-of-kin as quickly as possible about the deaths of British nationals within their districts. However, our consuls are not always informed about such deaths nor are they always the first to learn of them. In the 21W case of Saudi Arabia, many of the British citizens who die there are employed by companies who have the means and the wish to inform the next of kin themselves and to make arrangements for local burial or the return of the remains to the United Kingdom. Although our consular officers abroad have no investigative powers, they will, on request, ask the local authorities to provide information about the cause and manner of death, for passing on to the next of kin.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what improvements have been instituted in the past 12 months in the procedures British embassies adopt when helping relatives of those British citizens who die while working abroad.
§ Mr. WhitneyAs my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind), the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said on 11 May, our consuls abroad provide whatever practical help and advice they can to relatives and friends of the deceased-for example, by putting them in touch with the police and local authorities. They will also provide a list of local lawyers, names of suitable interpreters, and give advice about local burial, cremation, or repatriation of the remains. It is, however, for the local police to investigate any suspicious circumstances concerning the death.