§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits to British prisoners in prisons in Thailand have been undertaken by diplomatic representatives in Bangkok in the last year.
§ Mr. EggarFrom 15 October 1985 to 14 October 1986 the staff of Her Majesty's embassy Bangkok made 70 consular visits to prisons. These entailed 125 meetings with individual British citizens and 499 meetings with individual British dependent territories citizens. Not included in the totals are visits to police stations to see citizens before they are committed to prison.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice and assistance is given to friends and relatives visiting prisoners abroad when they arrive at Her Majesty's diplomatic posts.
§ Mr. EggarFriends and relatives who wish to visit prisoners abroad should preferably give the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Consular Department advance notice of their plans. Current prison regulations could then be confirmed with Posts overseas and, if necessary, applications made for visits. Posts can also advise visitors on the best means of reaching the prison, whether and if so what prison comforts are allowed, timing and length of permitted visits and so on, and provide letters of introduction if required.
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British prisoners are currently held in foreign prisons, analysed by country.
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§ Mr. EggarAccording to the most recent survey there were, on 11 September 1986, to the best of our knowledge, 1,290 British citizens detained in prisons in the following countries:
Number Argentina 1 Australia 10 Austria 10 Belgium 31 Bulgaria 3 Canada 3 Chile 1 Colombia 1 Cyprus 5 Denmark 31 East Germany 1 Ecuador 1 Egypt 1 France 201 Germany (West) 146 Greece 30 India 15 Indonesia 1 Iraq 5 Iran 2 Israel 8 Italy 29 Jamaica 1 Japan 34 Kenya 2 Kuwait 2 Libya 3 Luxembourg 2 Malaysia 12 Mexico 5 Morocco 4 Mozambique 1 Nepal 1 Netherlands 22 New Zealand 2 Norway 37 Oman 3 Pakistan 2 Paraguay 1 Peru 2 Philippines 3 Portugal 29 Qatar 3 Saudi Arabia 18 Singapore 9 South Africa 61 South Korea 23 Spain 193 Sri Lanka 1 Sweden 38 Switzerland 27 Syria 1 Taiwan 2 Thailand 76 Turkey 5 United Arab Emirates 11 United States of America 105 Zaire 2 Zambia 2 Zimbabwe 9
§ Mr. Corbynasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice is given to Her Majesty's diplomatic representatives about contacting British prisoners in foreign gaols; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarStanding instructions for British consular officers overseas are that British nationals, under arrest or detention, should be visited as soon as possible after their848W arrest or detention. Thereafter they should be visited at reasonable intervals, whether awaiting trial or serving a sentence (unless it has been made clear by the prisoner that visits are not required).