Skip to main content

Written question asked by Alicia Kearns (Conservative) on Friday, 10 October 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 14 October 2025. It was answered by Chris Elmore (Labour) on Monday, 20 October 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.


British Nationals Abroad: Detainees

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many referrals were made to her Department's (a) Pro Bono Medical Panel and (b) Pro Bono Legal Panel in relation to (i) prisoner welfare and (ii) human rights in each year since May 2020.

Answer

All referrals to the Pro Bono Legal Panel were in relation to the human rights of detainees:

  • 2020 - fewer than 5 referrals
  • 2021 - no referrals
  • 2022 - fewer than 5 referrals
  • 2023 - fewer than 5 referrals
  • 2024 - fewer than 5 referrals
  • 2025 - no referrals

All referrals to the Pro Bono Medical Panel were in relation to prisoner welfare:

  • 2020 - 8 referrals
  • 2021 - 9 referrals
  • 2022 - No records
  • 2023 - 6 referrals
  • 2024 - fewer than 5 referrals
  • 2025 - fewer than 5 referrals

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
78677
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Detainees British nationals abroad Health Torture
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk