Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Rejected
Paragraph: 76
The working assumption should be that families are partners who have the potential to be...
Conclusion
The working assumption should be that families are partners who have the potential to be instrumental in the attempts to resolve the detentions. Despite Government assurances, we do not believe that sufficient progress has been made in improving communication with families. Families are frequently assured by officials and ministers that they are “doing all they can” to secure the release of their detained family members. This is an inadequate response. To communicate standard Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy 51 diplomatic representations as substantive actions to families of detainees with little or no further detail is not conducive to a constructive and supportive working partnership.
Government Response Summary
The government does not agree that a separate post of Director for Arbitrary and Complex Detentions should be established, noting the Foreign Secretary's primacy within Cabinet.
Paragraph Reference:
76
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
26. The Government does not agree that we should establish a separate post of Director for Arbitrary and Complex Detentions. Our approach reflects the Foreign Secretary’s 8 Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy: Government Response primacy within Cabinet as the Secretary of State responsible for foreign affairs, including consular affairs, with direct access to the Prime Minister. Our approach to the governance and leadership of complex cases also reflects the dual premium we place on country specific expertise and consular best practice. Relevant senior geographic leads (Minister, Geographic Director, and Head of Mission) may lead our diplomatic response to complex detentions such as those in Iran, working with the Director for Consular Services who is responsible for consistency of consular approach. We regularly compare this approach with best practice in other countries.