Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister plans to raise the detention of Ryan Cornelius directly with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates.

The Government continues to raise Mr Ryan Cornelius' detention and welfare privately with the UAE authorities at appropriate opportunities. We continue to support his family's clemency applications, including through ministerial letters and I have raised their case with my Ministerial counterpart. The newly appointed Special Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions will review a small number of the most complex and intractable detention cases to determine where his engagement may add value and what different steps can be taken. The Envoy for Complex Consular Detentions has been briefed on the case. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will continue to provide consular assistance to Mr Cornelius and his family and remain in close contact regarding any developments.