Written question asked by Peter Bottomley (Conservative) on Monday, 3 September 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 10 September 2007. It was answered by Meg Munn (Labour) on Monday, 10 September 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Krishna Maharaj

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on developments relating to the clemency application of Krishna Maharaj; and what further steps his Department intends to take.

Answer: Further to my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs' (Mr. McCartney) letter of 22 May to the governor of Florida in support of Krishna Maharaj’s clemency petition, our consul in Orlando attended Mr, Maharaj's clemency waiver hearing on 9 August.The Aides to the Florida Clemency Board granted a waiver which means his clemency case could be heard by the full clemency board, including Governor Crist, as early as December. We welcome this decision and remain in close contact with Mr. Maharaj's legal team about the full consideration of his clemency plea by the Florida Clemency Board.We continue to offer appropriate consular assistance to Mr. Maharaj and our consul in Orlando last visited him on 24 August.

Secondary information