§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he will make to the Government of Dubai consequent upon the decision by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to designate the detention of George Atkinson as arbitrary. [56508]
§ Mr. FatchettThe United Nations Working Group had not told HMG of its decision until we consulted them on 22 October. We are seeking more information from the Working Group so that we may consider what action is appropriate.
We have regularly encouraged the Government of Dubai to sign and ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as other UN Conventions.