House of Commons - Support for British nationals abroad: The Consular Service

Foreign Affairs Committee - Fifth Report
Support for British nationals abroad: The Consular Service

Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 4 November 2014.

Contents

Terms of Reference

Summary

Conclusions and recommendations

1 Our inquiry

2 The Consular Service

Facing high demand and new challenges

Structure and financing

Limited resources

3 Reforms to the Consular Service

Consular strategies

Major organisational changes since 2007

Creation of consolidated call centres

Move to digital by default

Consular response to major crises

Closure of posts

Honorary Consuls

Reduction in documentary and notarial services

Discretionary loans to British nationals

Consular staffing

Public messaging and managing expectations

4 Deaths abroad

Non-suspicious deaths abroad

Complaints about the FCO's handling of cases

Suspicious deaths abroad

Complaints about FCO services in cases of murder or manslaughter abroad

FCO's response to complaints

Victim Support National Homicide Service

Communication

A new central unit for murder and manslaughter cases

5 Detention abroad

Managing expectations

Visiting prisoners

Lawyers lists and legal information

Torture allegations and FCO guidance

New guidance

Death penalty

A "lack of proactivity"

6 Passport transfer and crisis 2014

Background

Completion of transfer and implications for overseas nationals

Some web forum comments on passports

Passport crisis

7 Complaints handling

8 Overall approach to consular services

Conclusion

Formal Minutes

Witnesses

Published written evidence

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament