Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Losing Loved Ones Overseas: Support

Tuesday 26 October 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office supports about 4,000 families annually who lose loved ones overseas.
  • Officials are working with the Egyptian authorities and Her Majesty's Coroner to enable the inquest for the Cooper family's case.
  • The Minister considers the role of Government-led repatriation assistance alongside the work done by charities like the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Antony Higginbotham
Foreign Affairs
Context

No specific incident or statistic is provided, but the MP inquires about support for individuals losing loved ones abroad.

Question

What support does her Department offer to people who lose loved ones overseas?

Answer from Amanda Milling

Losing a loved one is always extremely difficult, particularly if it happens overseas. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office supports about 4,000 families affected by death abroad annually. Consular staff work tirelessly to provide information on local laws and systems, and offer tailored support to British people and their families in order to make arrangements.

Answered
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Q2 Antony Higginbotham
Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP mentions two recent and high-profile cases in his constituency: Susan and John Cooper who lost a loved one in Egypt, and Kelsey Devlin who died in Pakistan.

Question

In my constituency, we have sadly had two recent and high-profile cases of families losing a loved one abroad, including Susan and John Cooper in Egypt, and more recently Kelsey Devlin in Pakistan. Will my right hon. Friend look into those two cases to see whether there is anything further that the Foreign Office can do in order that the families can finally get the answers they need so that they can grieve?

Answer from Amanda Milling

May I first offer my deepest sympathies to my hon. Friend's constituents following the deaths of their loved ones? Officials continue to support Mr and Mrs Cooper's family and are working with Her Majesty's Coroner and Egyptian authorities to enable the inquest to take place as soon as possible. My officials are also supporting Ms Devlin's family, and will assist them in reporting their concerns surrounding this tragic case to the police in Pakistan. I would also like to offer to meet my hon. Friend to discuss these two cases.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP references the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust in Northern Ireland, which assists with complex repatriation cases.

Question

Does the Minister agree that although charities such as the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust in Northern Ireland do a tremendous job in assisting with complex repatriation, there is a greater role and need for a Government-led repatriation section to be established?

Answer from Amanda Milling

As I said, FCDO consular staff provide assistance to about 4,000 British families a year. The purpose of the assistance is to provide tailored support depending on families' particular needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The establishment of a government-led repatriation section

How: As I Said

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