§ Mr. McNamara:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to secure the release of Mr. Simon Chapman, arrested on 21 June 2003 in Thessaloniki, Greece; whether Her Majesty's representatives in Greece viewed the video evidence purporting to demonstrate Mr. Chapman's innocence of the charges made against him; how many days Mr. Chapman was on hunger strike; what the most recent assessment is of Mr. Chapman's medical condition; if he will make representations to the Greek authorities to lift the remaining barriers that prevent Mr. Chapman from returning to the UK; and what publicly-funded (a) legal advice and (b) financial support is available to Mr. Chapman to pursue a civil action against the Greek authorities. [143378]
§ Mr. Mullin:Simon Chapman was released on bail on 27 November 2003. Consular staff were in regular touch with him throughout his detention; and staff in the UK were in frequent touch with his family.
Neither the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) nor the British Embassy in Athens are in a position to comment on the video evidence put forward in Mr. Chapman's defence. It is for the courts to decide upon its relevance to his case.
Mr. Chapman started refusing food and liquids from 4 October 2003, although he did take honey and vitamin supplements. He started taking water from 25 October 2003. Since his release, Mr. Chapman has not contacted our staff but we remain in contact with his family, who have told us that Mr. Chapman is now eating certain foods and steadily regaining weight.
Mr. Chapman's lawyer has made an application to the Greek authorities to allow him to return to the UK pending his trial.
The FCO does not fund the legal costs of distressed British nationals but we have offered the use of a pro-bono lawyer from the FCO panel to assist Mr. Chapman's lawyer.