Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have reported being tortured since the start of his Department's technical assistance programme in Bahrain.

We do not have figures on the number of people who reported torture in Bahrain however we unreservedly condemn torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It is a priority for us to combat it wherever and whenever it occurs. We believe that UK support to Bahrain’s reform programme is the most constructive way to achieve long-lasting and sustainable reform in Bahrain. While it will take time to see the full results, UK support is having a direct, positive impact on areas of concern.