Oral QuestionForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office

What steps her Department is taking to support UK citizens arbitrarily detained abroad.

Tabled: 14 January 2026Answered: 20 January 2026

Asked by

Douglas McAllister

LabourWest Dunbartonshire

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

Answer from Hansard

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

One of the Foreign Office’s most serious and important duties is standing up for British nationals who have been wrongly detained overseas, and supporting the families here at home who are working desperately for their release. We are committed to strengthening our efforts, including through the appointment of a dedicated envoy for complex detention cases. We expect to confirm that appointment in the near future.