HC Deb 03 July 1998 vol 315 cc294-5W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 7 May 1998,Official Report, column 488, how many of the 174 disappearances of British citizens in Turkey have been actively investigated; how many individuals have been found; how many are still missing; and what procedures and support systems exist for their families. [47864]

Mr. Fatchett

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 7 May 1998,Official Report, column 488. The prime responsibility for tracing missing persons rests with the UK police. When families report relatives missing they are advised to file a missing persons report with their local police station in the UK. The police then notify the UK National Central Bureau of Interpol who notify the police in the country where the person has been reported as missing, who institute inquiries. We also pass the families contact details of NGOs who can sometimes help in tracing missing persons.