Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made recent progress on ensuring the safe return of Jim Fitton from detention in Iraq.

Following the verdict, consular officials in Iraq and the UK are continuing to provide consular assistance to Mr Fitton and his family. We cannot, of course, interfere in the judicial process of another country, just as we would not expect interference in our own. The British Ambassador in Baghdad has and will continue to, raise our interest in Mr Fitton's case with the Iraqi Government. This included raising with the authorities the UK's strong opposition to the death penalty - both the possibility of it being applied in Mr Fitton's case and in all circumstances as a matter of principle. Whilst he is detained, we will continue to register our interest in Mr Fitton and that the conditions of the prison are in line with international standards. Mr Fitton's safety and welfare remain of the upmost importance.