Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2020 to Question 99694 on Hostage Taking, when he last made an assessment of the effectiveness of UK hostage policy; and whether that assessment was made internally or by an external evaluator.

We keep all our consular policies under continual review. As set out in our guide on 'support for British nationals abroad', last updated on 26 February 2019, the UK can provide consular support to the families of British nationals kidnapped overseas, including remaining in contact with the family and keeping them up to date with the situation as far as possible. We will do everything we properly can to ensure kidnapped British nationals are released safely.