HC Deb 18 May 1989 vol 153 cc247-8W
Mr. Wheeler

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the figures for each of the last five years for which records are available of the numbers of British citizens imprisoned abroad who returned to this country within that year.

Mr. Eggar

The information requested is not available.

Mr. Wheeler

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state for the last year for which figures are available how many British citizens imprisoned abroad received(a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) more than four visits from consular officials.

Mr. Eggar

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Wheeler

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in theOfficial Report all those consular posts which have a local benevolent fund or charity on which they can draw for buying extra food, soap, and so on for British citizens imprisoned abroad, stating against each (a) the total drawn for each of the last five years for which figures are available and (b) the total amount available from each source in this financial year.

Mr. Eggar

Many of our consular posts around the world have access to local benevolent funds. Such funds exist purely due to private donations. Since public funds are not involved we do not keep a central list. The funds also vary enormously in their extent and purpose as well as the degree to which consular posts may draw on them.