To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will call for a report from Her Majesty's Government's consul on Corfu into the circumstances of the arrest of Mr. Scott Joyce of 28 Cannon Drive, Ash Green, Coventry, on 26 June and his sentencing to 12 months' imprisonment on 27 June, and as to whether legal representation was available to him.
We have received a report from our consul at Corfu about the arrest and conviction of Mr. Scott Joyce. The consul was notified on 27 June 1991 of Mr. Joyce's arrest the previous day. Mr. Joyce's trial was held the same day, after he had confirmed to the consul that he did not intend to request a postponement. He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.The consul, aware that Mr. Joyce did not have funds for a lawyer, asked whether he required assistance to contact anyone for funds. Mr. Joyce declined this offer, and was therefore unrepresented in court.