Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assurances about the death penalty the Government sought from the authorities in (a) California, (b) Dubai and (c) Japan before permitting UK police forces and other agencies to support criminal investigations in those jurisdictions; and if he will publish those assurances.

It is the longstanding policy of the UK to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. In cases where the British Government provides support or assistance to criminal investigations overseas, we routinely seek assurances regarding the death penalty from the authorities of those jurisdictions, but these are confidential agreements between the UK and the relevant jurisdiction.