Written question asked by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Thursday, 19 December 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 January 2003. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 January 2003 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 follow-up action will be taken to contact British parents who have reported prevention of access to their children in Germany to British Consulates, in order to identify the common problems they are experiencing and give them assistance in the future.

Answer: Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what follow-up action will be taken to contact British parents who have reported prevention of access to their children in Germany to British Consulates, in order to identify the common problems they are experiencing and give them assistance in the future. [89025] Mr. Mike O'Brien: Responsibility for cases concerning parental access to children in Germany lies with the Lord Chancellor's Department, Germany being a party to the 1980 Hague Convention on international child abduction. The FCO will continue to provide such consular advice and support as it properly can, in conjunction with the Lord Chancellor's Department, to British nationals who request it.

Secondary information