The FCDO’s approach to state level hostage situations

Foreign Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 1 Apr 2022 Closed: 29 May 2024 Parliament page
This inquiry will examine the processes and approaches taken by the UK Government in securing the release of the hostages in Iran, and other similar situations. It will assess the likely impact their approach may have on deterring other states from using this tactic and will consider options for multilateral … Read more
21 Recommendations
18 Conclusions
2 Reports
5 Oral sessions
4 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
20 Oct
2023
Report published
6 Jul
2023
Report published
6 Jul
2023
Correspondence
6 Jul
2023
Correspondence
4 Apr
2023
Report published
28 Mar
2023
Correspondence
13 Mar
2023
Oral evidence
13 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
7 Feb
2023
Oral evidence
7 Feb
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
8 Sep
2022
Correspondence
19 Jul
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
13 Mar 2023
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Foreign Affairs Committee
David Rutley · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Jennifer Anderson · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
7 Feb 2023
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Mickey Bergman · Governor Richardson Center for Global Engagement Phil Harper QPM · Sheep One Hundred
19 Jul 2022
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Dr Tatyana Eatwell · Doughty Street Chambers Hans-Jakob Schindler · Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Rupert Skilbeck · REDRESS
24 May 2022
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Brian Jenkins · Rand Corporation Rachel Briggs · The Clarity Factory The Rt Hon. the Lord Hammond of Runnymede
17 May 2022
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Rt Hon Alistair Burt · Foreign and Commonwealth Office Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
8 Conclusion Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Stolen years: comba…
Learning from previous cases needs to be central to the formulation of a coherent and...
Learning from previous cases needs to be central to the formulation of a coherent and flexible approach to securing the release of detainees. Given the high turnover of ministers and civil servants, we have seen insufficient evidence to indicate that … Read more
Government Response
The government did not address the conclusion on learning from previous cases. Instead, the response discussed international law and consular relations.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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9 Recommendation Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Stolen years: comba…
Starting immediately, we recommend a central repository be created for information on cases of arbitrary...
Starting immediately, we recommend a central repository be created for information on cases of arbitrary detention and hostage taking, both active and closed, detailing processes followed and learning gained. There should be a systematic approach applied to all cases, not … Read more
Government Response
The government did not address the recommendation to create a central repository for information, and instead discussed international law and consular relations.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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18 Recommendation Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Stolen years: comba…
We recommend that the FCDO demonstrates meaningful engagement and provides the Committee with an annual...
We recommend that the FCDO demonstrates meaningful engagement and provides the Committee with an annual private report on the progress of UK nationals arbitrarily detained abroad, with follow-up briefing at the Foreign Office if required, to enable the work of … Read more
Government Response
The Government agrees the importance of continuous improvement and proactive case management and has systems and practices in place to support this, including a central database for recording and managing consular casework globally, and thorough briefings for incoming staff or Ministers. This response does not address the recommendation to provide an annual private report to the Committee.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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28 Recommendation Not Addressed
Sixth Report - Stolen years: comba…
We recommend a plan be prepared by the FCDO for providing material support for long-term...
We recommend a plan be prepared by the FCDO for providing material support for long-term arbitrarily detained persons on their release as well as support during detention for families especially where the detainee is the primary earner. In this context … Read more
Government Response
The government discusses the task force approach to complex consular cases, designed to ensure prompt identification of complex detentions.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 36 of 21 classified
Accepted 7
Acknowledged 17
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 4
Rejected 6
Total 21 recs + 18 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
6 Jul 2023 From committee Letter to the Foreign Secretary relating to the Government Response to the Committee's report: 'Stolen years: combatting state hostage diplomacy', dated 05/07/2023
Parliament page
6 Jul 2023 Correspondence with the Minister for Americas and the Caribbean following the FAC oral evidence session on 13 March 2023, dated 22/05/2023 and 31/03/2023
Parliament page
28 Mar 2023 Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to the Committee's inquiry on the FCDO's approach to state level hostage situations, dated 21/03/2023 and 06/03/2023
Parliament page
8 Sep 2022 Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to the status of Morad Tahbaz's detention, dated 12/08/2022 and 20/07/2022
Parliament page