Venezuela (Hansard, 14 November 1996)

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are currently held in detention in Venezuela. [4212]

§ Dr. Liam Fox
There are three British citizens currently held in detention in Venezuela. There is also a Commonwealth citizen for whom we have consular responsibility.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom and Venezuela. [4214]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
Bilateral relations are good. There is substantial UK interest in trade and investment in Venezuela. I was there in May and the Venezuelan Planning Minister and Finance Minister visited London in September and October respectively.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the charges made against Mr. Paul Loseby and Mr. James Miles who are currently being held in Venezuela. [4209]

§ Dr. Fox
Mr. Paul Loseby and Mr. James Miles were arrested at Caracas airport on 4 November with cocaine strapped to their bodies.
The public prosecutor will decide whether any formal charges will be made.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Venezuela. [4213]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary has no immediate plans to visit Venezuela. I visited in May and met several senior Venezuelan Ministers, including the President.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date and at what time the embassy in Caracas was informed of the arrest of Mr. Paul Loseby and Mr. James Miles; and for how many hours and on what days Mr. Loseby and Mr. Miles have been visited by consular officials. [4211]

§ Dr. Fox
The Venezuelan authorities told embassy officials in Caracas at about 11.00 hours on 6 November 1996 that two unnamed British nationals had been arrested. The same day, consular officials sought permission to visit, and were allowed to see Mr. Loseby and Mr. Miles at 15.00 hours on 7 November. The visit lasted about one hour.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Venezuelan authorities about the situation of British citizens currently being detained in Venezuela. [4215]

§ Sir Nicholas Bonsor
The British embassy in Caracas liaises regularly with the Venezuelan authorities and monitors closely the situation of all British citizens who have been detained. An EU demarche was made in July on the situation of the Venezuelan prisons and a statement was issued earlier this month by the EU presidency, following recent disturbances at the La Planta prison in Caracas.