HC Deb 05 March 2003 vol 400 cc1057-9W
Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the work of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in investigating cases of UK subjects imprisoned overseas. [99935]

Mr. Rammell

The UK co-sponsored last year's UN Commission on Human Rights resolution on the question of arbitrary detention which encouraged all Governments to implement the recommendations of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concerning those detained for a number of years; and to take appropriate measures to ensure that their legislation, regulations and practices were in conformity with the relevant international standards and the relevant international legal instruments.

Regarding Working Group rulings on the detention of UK citizens overseas, the UK has taken account of the Working Group's views and, where necessary, taken appropriate steps to remedy the situation of persons arbitrarily deprived of their liberty.

Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made on behalf of George Atkinson to the Government of Dubai following the letter from the Jumeirah prison authorities of 19 March 2002 indicating that his sentence had been completed. [99937]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

We understand that in Dubai, when a prisoner has served three-quarters of a sentence, the prison authorities routinely report this to the judicial authorities. However, any decision to release a prisoner early is at the discretion of the local authorities and is not automatic. In early 2001 the Ruler's Court informed Mr Atkinson's solicitors of Dubai's legal position in relation to Mr Atkinson's sentence, and specifically of the linkage between payment of the fine imposed by the court and time served in prison. Our Embassy have provided information to Mr Atkinson's UK lawyers about local lawyers who can assist with local courts. The British Government does not normally intervene in the judicial processes of other countries.

Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Dubai following the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's opinion 16/2002 confirming their opinion 17/1998 that George Atkinson be released forthwith; and if he will make a statement. [99940]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in its opinion 17/1998 found that the detention of George Atkinson in Dubai from 1 March 1997 until 13 December 1999 was arbitrary. A subsequent report by the Working Group, in December 2002 (opinion 16/2002), stated that it was not clear whether George Atkinson's detention since 14 December 1999 was arbitrary. Although we do not normally intervene in the judicial process of other countries, we are in contact with Mr Atkinson's lawyer and will continue to do all we properly can for him.

Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Dubai following the treatment George Atkinson received in Jumeirah prison on 30th July 2002. [99936]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

Last summer there were a number of riots at Dubai's Jumeirah prison. George Atkinson and a number of other British detainees were injured. Of course our primary concern is the welfare of British detainees and, following the riots, our consular staff immediately visited George Atkinson and the other affected British detainees. Our Consul-General met the Dubai Chief of Police on 20 August, to express our serious concerns at the incidents in the prison, and the treatment of British prisoners during those events. Our Consul-General also raised the incidents with the Director of the Ruler's Court, and sought assurances that there would be no recurrence of the problems at the prison.

Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list British subjects imprisoned in the Middle East and the length of time that each has been imprisoned. [99938]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

At 27 February 2003 the known British prison population in the following countries stood at

  • Israel: 2
  • Lebanon:1
  • Syria:none
  • Jordan:none
  • Iraq:none
  • Egypt:4
  • Saudi Arabia: 10
  • Kuwait: 1
  • Bahrain: 1
  • Qatar: none
  • United Arab Emirates: 20
  • Oman: 2
  • Yemen: 4
  • Iran: none

I am withholding the names of the prisoners and the length of their sentences under exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information (privacy of an individual).