Visas

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Excerpts
Thursday 18th November 2010

(13 years, 8 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Earl Attlee Portrait Earl Attlee
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My Lords, we will provide a full and normal visa service when the situation in Iraq allows it. It is obviously in our interests to do so. The noble Lord talked about the Germans. Following an expansion of German visa facilities in Iraq, suicide car bombers targeted the German embassy in Baghdad in April this year, killing a security guard. We will not take any unnecessary or avoidable risks with our personnel, whether UK or foreign.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Portrait Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
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My Lords, this is a problem that does not apply just to Iraq but throughout the Middle East, including Libya. Can the noble Earl say a little more about his department’s approach as it applies to other countries in the Middle East?

Earl Attlee Portrait Earl Attlee
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My Lords, unfortunately not. I am briefed about the problems in Iraq, not the rest of the Middle East.