Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether as part of the integrated review of foreign policy, defence, security and development he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the findings of the 2019 All-party Parliamentary Group on Deaths Abroad report entitled Why UK families deserve better and what can be done.
Answered by Nigel Adams
As discussed during the meeting I held with the Honourable Lady on 19th October, we have carefully considered the feedback in the APPG's report and will be pleased to issue a response in the coming weeks. Consular assistance continues to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere in the world, by phone, online and via social media. We will continue our focus on those British nationals overseas who are the most vulnerable, training expert frontline staff to provide assistance in country and offering a wider choice of digital services where these can be provided more effectively online.
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason his Department decided to refer on its website and in documentation to people seeking consular assistance as customers.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The 'Customer Charter' in in the publication 'Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide' (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/914039/FCO_BritsAbroad_A4web_020920.pdf) reflects the FCDO's commitment to provide a high quality service to those who need our support. As well as supporting British individuals who have experienced crime or trauma we also issue travel documents and provide notarial services and our publication seeks to set out the full range of help available. I was happy to meet the Honourable Lady on the 19th of October to discuss this aspect of the APPG report "Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance: Why Families Deserve Better and What Can Be Done".
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to publish an official response to the APPG on Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance 2019 Report entitled Why families in the UK deserve better and what can be done.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We welcome the report of the APPG's Death Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance 2019. On 28 August I, (Minister Adams) replied to APPG chair, Hannah Bardell's letter of 28 July. In that letter I confirmed that I and my predecessors have repeatedly offered to meet the APPG to discuss their concerns and recommendations. This offer has not been taken up. We have carefully considered the issues raised in the report.
Asked by: Hannah Bardell (Scottish National Party - Livingston)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2019 to Question 208405, how many of those deaths abroad due to murder or manslaughter were British citizens residing in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
Our case management system does not break down numbers of British nationals who died abroad by residency in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Toby Perkins (Labour - Chesterfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Fifth Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Session 2014–15, Support for British nationals abroad: The Consular Service, HC 516, what recommendations from the section of that report on deaths abroad have been implemented.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
We have made changes in response to both the 2014 Foreign Affairs Committee report and the FCO's own internal review (which was also carried out in 2014). Most notably, the FCO created a dedicated team to handle Murder and Manslaughter cases. Since its creation in 2015, this team has supported over 200 families. We continue to regularly review our consular policy to ensure we are supporting the most vulnerable.