Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Bahrain on its failure to comply with the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry in the matter of the release of people tortured in that country.

We encourage the Government of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments. When we had concerns about allegations of torture or mistreatment, we have raised our concerns with the Government of Bahrain. We encourage those with concerns about treatment in detention to report these to the relevant human rights oversight bodies, and we encourage swift, transparent conclusions to any investigations.

The UK's support to Bahrain's reform programme includes strengthening independent oversight bodies such as the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman and the Prisoners and Detainees Rights Commission which provide oversight of police conduct and detention standards. The British Government unreservedly condemns torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. It is a government priority to combat it whever it occurs.