Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether consular access to Mr Jagtar Singh Johal was (a) requested by the UK High Commission and (b) granted by the Indian authorities during the 10 days in which Mr Johal was incarcerated in Delhi Special Cell in January 2021.

Consular staff from the British High Commission in Delhi visited Mr Johal in police custody on Friday 8 January following his transfer to Delhi Special Cell on 7 January. Permission for a further consular visit was granted by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday 15 January but a visit could not be conducted before Mr Johal was returned to Tihar jail on 16 January. Permission was then sought and granted for a consular call with Mr Johal which took place on Wednesday 20 January.