§ Mr. David CameronTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British embassy in Oman formally requested a complete set of the travel ban documentation that applies in the case of a constituent, Mr. Jonathan Brown. [120680]
§ Mr. Mullin[holding answer 20 June 2003]: Travel ban directives originate from the Omani authorities only. Our Embassy in Muscat cannot interfere in the Omani judicial and administrative system. Our own judicial and administrative systems are similarly protected.
§ Mr. CameronTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the British Embassy in Oman have taken to ensure that the Omani authorities regularise the visa status of a constituent, Mr. Jonathan Brown; and what steps the Embassy is taking to secure his return to the UK. [120681]
941W
§ Mr. Mullin[holding answer 20 June 2003]: For Mr. Brown to be able to leave Oman, the local authorities require him to regularise his expired visa and pay the court judgment of approximately £10,000 against him. Our Embassy wrote to Mr. Brown on 20 July 2002 explaining this. On 5 February 2003 an Embassy staff member assisted Mr. Brown by taking his passport to the immigration services to secure the visa extension. The authorities could not, however, proceed, as Mr. Brown was unable to provide all of the information required. On 19 May our Ambassador reminded Mr. Brown in a letter that the Omani authorities required this information; to date Mr. Brown has not given it to them. We have repeatedly offered to contact Mr. Brown's family to secure funds to pay his judgment. Mr. Brown has not responded to these offers.