British Citizens Imprisoned Overseas and Coronavirus Debate

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Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

British Citizens Imprisoned Overseas and Coronavirus

Catherine West Excerpts
Monday 2nd March 2020

(4 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nigel Adams Portrait Nigel Adams
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Indeed so. This is the most challenging health issue that this country—and in fact the world—has faced for as long as I have been in this House, and the pressure on our chief medical officers and all our professionals must be immense. But, having attended the Cobra meeting this morning, I can say that we are very well served by some absolutely professional, superb civil servants.

Catherine West Portrait Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green) (Lab)
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What reassurance can the Minister give me that my constituent, an employee of the British Council, which is part of the Foreign Office, will have care that is just as good as that of anyone else in Evin prison? I commend the fact that the Government have given extra money to the international effort to tackle coronavirus.

Nigel Adams Portrait Nigel Adams
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I can absolutely give the hon. Lady that assurance. We are aware of the additional number of dual-national prisoners, including the constituent to whom she refers, who was an employee of the British Council.