Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conditions under which migrants detained in Libya and Niger are held; and in particular, what steps they intend to take to ensure that those on boats who are stopped by the EU-funded Libyan coastguard are not subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment.

​We remain concerned by the appalling conditions faced by migrants in detention centres, particularly in Libya. We continue to urge the Libyan authorities to pursue alternatives to detention and implement a better functioning migration system that respects human rights.

The EU does not directly fund the Libyan coastguard. The training support to the Libyan Coastguard and Navy (LCGN), which is provided through the EU naval Operation Sophia to which the UK currently contributes common funding, aims to increase Libyans' ability to secure their own maritime borders and to manage search and rescue activities properly in a human rights compliant way. We expect all vessels to operate in accordance with international maritime law, including the exercise of restraint in the use of force, and adherence to established human rights norms. All Libyan trainees are screened to ensure that we are not training anyone previously found to have been involved in human rights violations. The EU training package (which includes International Humanitarian Law and human rights components) aims to equip the Libyan Coastguard with the skills required to manage search and rescue activities properly, in a human rights compliant manner. As part of Her Majesty's Government's human rights policy, we keep this training programme under continual review.

The UK, through bilateral and EU programming, is protecting and supporting migrants along the Central Mediterranean Route, including in Niger. This includes provision of humanitarian assistance and information on risks along the route, as well as facilitating Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration and refugee resettlement. These return and resettlement activities have led to thousands being moved from Libya to safe countries.