Written question asked by Lord Patten (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Malloch-Brown (Labour) on Monday, 16 June 2008.

Cuba: Prisoners

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they have made representations to the Government of Cuba encouraging them to abide by the United Nations standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners; and, if so, what was the result.

Answer: We have made no representations to the Government of Cuba on the UN standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners. However, our embassy in Havana continues to monitor the situations of political prisoners who are reported to be suffering ill health without adequate medical treatment and maintains contact with their supporters, including their immediate families. We regularly raise the issue of political prisoners with the Cuban authorities both in London and Havana and call for their immediate release. Most recently, my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Meg Munn, raised the issue of the release of political prisoners with the vice-president of the National Assembly of People's Power, Jaime Crombert Hernandez-Baquero, in November 2007 and with Cuban Vice Foreign Minister, Eumelio Caballero, in April 2008.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 3750; 702 c126WA
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Cuba: Prisoners
Monday, 24 November 2008
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Prisoners Political prisoners Cuba Prisoners' rights
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk