Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether contact was made between officials at the British Embassy in Brazil and the Brazilian government regarding the arrest of Ray Whelan in Rio de Janerio in July 2014; and whether the UK made any offers to assist the Brazilian authorities with their investigation into Mr Whelan.

The British Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro provided routine consular assistance to Mr Whelan following his arrest in July 2014. This included contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Brazilian Civil Police to request information at the time of his arrest. The Consulate also requested routine prison visits for Mr Whelan’s family from the Prison Administration Secretary. National Crime Agency representatives in Brazil did discuss the case with the Brazilian authorities, but did not open an investigation.