HC Deb 06 July 1988 vol 136 c612W
Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the circumstances leading to the recent arrest of five Britons in Majorca; what exchanges he is having with the Spanish authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

The events leading to the arrest of five Britons in Majorca on 1 July 1988 are a matter for investigation by the Spanish authorities. The five are remanded in custody pending completion of that investigation. They have been visited by a consular officer.

The general question of hooliganism by a small minority of British visitors to Spain is one on which we have regular and frank exchanges with the Spanish authorities and with British travel organisations. I gave details of the most recent of these exchanges in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 22 June 1988.

I recently launched a new initiative in the form of a series of public service messages for television which offer practical advice to British holidaymakers travelling abroad.