§ Ms. AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provisions are being made by Her Majesty's Government for proper legal representation for British subjects facing trial in Thailand.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe British embassy in Bangkok, like British embassies and consular posts elsewhere, ensures that British nationals who are detained understand how to obtain legal representation. The embassy holds an up-to-date list of English-speaking lawyers, which is offered to all British detainees.
§ Ms. AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps were taken by British consular officials to draw the attention of the Thai courts to Ms Cahill's juvenile British legal status at the time of sentencing.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Thai authorities were aware of Miss Cahill's age. She was tried and sentenced in a juvenile court. The British embassy has strongly supported her petition for a royal pardon on the grounds of her youth and immaturity at the time the offence was committed.
§ Ms. AbbottTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are currently being made by Her Majesty's Government in support of the British women, Patricia Cahill and Kathryn Smith, imprisoned in Thailand.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydOur embassy in Bangkok has submitted to the Thai authorities petitions from both girls for a royal pardon. The embassy gave both petitions strong support.
Each month a member of staff of the embassy visits the girls. With money provided by family, friends and Prisoners Abroad, our embassy helps them with the purchase of food, cosmetics, toiletries and so on. Our embassy also provides books and magazines and has arranged for vaccinations.