§ 24. Mr. David EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British citizens were detained abroad in 1988; how many of these received consular assistance; and what were the comparable figures for five years ago.
§ Mr. SainsburyOne thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven British citizens were reported as having been detained abroad during 1988. Those detained briefly for minor offences are often not reported to us. Consular assistance was available to all who were still in detention when consular contact was established.
Comparable figures for five years ago are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.