§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact he or his Department has had with the head of the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi's private office.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggOur ambassador in Abu Dhabi had a meeting with the chairman of Sheikh Zayed's private department on 30 January 1992.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi concerning the 17 British citizens who have been detained there concerning the Bank of Credit and Commerce International issue; and if he will make a statement on the conditions under which they are currently being held.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWe have made numerous representations to senior officials in Abu Dhabi asking for the detainees to be charged or released. Eight detainees entered Abu Dhabi on British passports. There are a further two dual United Kingdom/Pakistan citizens and one Canadian citizen whom we are helping. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised their case with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates on 16 May 1992.
They are being held at the police club, which is comfortable and air-conditioned. They are housed two to a room and have the run of one wing. Food is brought in daily from a nearby hotel. The detainees are visited regularly by a doctor.