HL Deb 24 June 1998 vol 591 c25WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will review their policy of seeking to visit certain prisoners in countries such as Cameroon and Ethiopia, but not in others, such as Bahrain; and whether, in evaluating the possible risks to the relatives of prisoners arising from such requests to visit, they will accept the opinion of the next of kin. [HL2111]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

There is no worldwide policy on embassy officials visiting non-British prisoners. Each case is considered carefully in the light of individual circumstances, drawing on all information at our disposal. The opinion of family members would be given due weight in this consideration.