§ Mr. CollinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has made in the last 12 months(a) through Interpol and (b) through other means to the French Ministry of the Interior concerning the handling of deaths of British citizens in France; and if he will make a statement. [68132]
§ Mr. FatchettI have been asked to reply.
My noble Friend the Under-Secretary wrote to Mme Guigou, French Minister of Justice, on 4 August, stressing the importance of bringing to justice murderers of British nationals in France. On 30 November she met senior officials, in Paris, from the Ministry of Interior to discuss the handling of deaths of British nationals and to press for more vigorous investigations by the French authorities.
On 21 and 29 April 1998, the Deputy Head of Mission at our Embassy in Paris, raised specific cases with senior officials from the French Ministry of Interior.
Interpol London becomes involved in various aspects of cases involving death of British nationals abroad, particularly where crime is suspected. This is done on a case-by-case basis.
Our Embassy in Paris continues to remind the French authorities of the importance we attach to investigating the death of British nationals in France.