§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are in force in British consular offices overseas to ensure that, when a British citizen is involved in an accident, steps are taken to ensure that the relatives of the person involved are informed immediately.
§ Mr. WhitneyBritish consular offices overseas are instructed that the death or serious illness of, or a grave accident to, a British visitor (that is a person normally resident in the United Kingdom) should be reported to the consular department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by the quickest means, unless the person is accompanied by someone (for example, a relative or, in the case of an organised tour, a representative of the tour company) who will accept responsibility. Unless the consular officer is satisfied that this person is informing the next-of-kin or legal representative, he should ask consular department to arrange for this to be done. In the case of illness or accident consular department notify next-of-kin by telephone. In the case of a death the local police are asked to convey the news.
Action by a consular office is of course dependent on being notified, or being made aware of, incidents involving British nationals.