§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the(a) verdict and (b) sentence of imprisonment on three British nationals in the Egyptian State Security Court on 25 March 2004: what consular support is being provided to those concerned; and what diplomatic representations are being made in their case.[164775]
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§ Mr. Mullin[holding answer 30 March 2004]: We will not be in a position to consider making any statement relating to the judge's decision until we have received a transcript of his summation. Our Consular officials in Cairo will continue to monitor the men's welfare and make regular consular visits. I assure the hon. Member that we will continue to do all that we properly can to assist the men and provide information and support to their relatives in the United Kingdom. We will continue to make diplomatic representations to the Egyptian Government, where appropriate, about any concerns we may have with this case, including representations about the allegations made by the men that they were tortured and mistreated in the initial days of their detention.