Written question asked by Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 June 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 June 2000. It was answered by Lord Hain (Labour) on Monday, 26 June 2000 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what legal assistance, with particular reference to the filing of an appeal, was given via the British Consular staff in Cuba to Ms Rachel McGee, following her trial there in September 1999.

Answer: Mr. Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal assistance, with particular reference to the filing of an appeal, was given via the British Consular staff in Cuba to Ms Rachel McGee, following her trial there in September 1999. [126766] Mr. Hain: Our Consular staff are not legally trained and are not able to offer legal advice. At the request of Rachel McGee, consular staff contacted Ms McGee's family about the possibility of an appeal, facilitated payment to the Cuban law firm that represented Ms McGee in the trial and transmitted her request to lodge an appeal. Following submission of the appeal, the Embassy in Cuba have repeatedly pressed the lawyers to obtain a date for an appeal hearing.

Secondary information