Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has requested that consular visits with Andy Tsege be conducted in private.
The British Government takes Mr Tsege's case extremely seriously and is working to ensure his welfare and legal access while he is detained. This Government has provided significant support to Mr Tsege and his family. Our Ambassador to Ethiopia has visited Mr Tsege on multiple occasions – most recently on 12 October. It is not common practice for consular visits to be held in private. During our consular visits to Mr Tsege, an Ethiopian official has been present. We consider this presence of an Ethiopian official to be in accordance with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and in line with local laws and regulations.