Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assurances he has requested from the government of Ethiopia on the treatment of Andargachew Tsige while he is in custody; and what steps he plans to take to monitor whether his detention is lawful and humane.

I remain deeply concerned by the continued detention of British national Andargachew Tsege in Ethiopia and about his welfare. The Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon friend, the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond MP) last spoke to the Ethiopian Foreign Minister about this case on 30 June and made a public statement on 25 June. He made clear that Ethiopia’s failure to grant our repeated requests for access was unacceptable, and informed Dr Tedros that the lack of progress risked undermining the UK’s much valued relationship with Ethiopia. We will continue to press the Ethiopian government for regular consular access, for our concerns regarding Mr Andargachew’s welfare to be addressed, and for a clear and transparent legal process through which Mr Andargachew can challenge his detention. We have also asked the Ethiopian authorities to facilitate a visit by Mr Andargachew’s family.