§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the number of British citizens in Abu Dhabi who have had their passports confiscated in connection with BCCI; and if he will list their names.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydHer Majesty's embassy at Abu Dhabi has been assured by the court receiver, most recently on 25 November 1991, that passports of all but a few British mationals have now been released and can be collected by their holders. The embassy has asked the court receiver for a list of names of those whose passports are not to be released.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has received from British citizens in Abu Dhabi.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe have received no representations from British citizens in Abu Dhabi.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the British ambassador in the United Arab Emirates was first informed of the situation of the British citizens in Abu Dhabi whose passports are being withheld from them by the BCCI court receivers; what information was received; and what action was then taken.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydA small number of former BCCI employees approached Her Majesty's embassy in Abu Dhabi as early as September 1991. A few individuals asked in late October and November for advice on how to recover their passports. The embassy undertook to find out why the passports could not be released. On 18 November 1991 the court receiver gave instructions that passports should be released in all but a small number of cases. These relate to individuals who have major liabilities to the bank and whose situation is being studied on a case-by-case basis.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protest has been made by the Foreign Office to the Abu Dhabi Government about British citizens detained in connection with BCCI; and what has been the response.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe matter of consular access was raised with the United Arab Emirates by Her Majesty's 513W embassy in Abu Dhabi on 9 September 1991, and various times thereafter. My hon. Friend, the Minister of State, raised the question of consular access to the detainees with the United Arab Emirates deputy Prime Minister on 28 October 1991. Consular access was granted on 31 October 1991.
The embassy in Abu Dhabi has been seeking ways of overcoming administrative obstacles facing those who are not in detention but have not been able to leave. Passports and air tickets have now been made available to the majority of those who wish to leave, and arrangements made for the shipping of their personal effects.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions the British ambassador and his staff have visited those detained in Abu Dhabi; what representations were made by them; and what action is being taken to secure their release.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydFollowing representations by Her Majesty's ambassador at Abu Dhabi and his staff, Her Majesty's consul was permitted to see the detainees on 31 October 1991. Their release will depend on the due process and practice of Abu Dhabi law.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what explanation has been given by the Abu Dhabi authorities as to why the passports of the British citizens detained in Abu Dhabi were taken from them.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIt is common practice in many countries for employers to hold passports. In the case of BCCI employees, the authorities kept employees' passports while they investigated their financial position. Instructions have now been given for all but a small number to be released.