To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial and other support is given to non-government organisations which seek to assist UK prisoners abroad; and in which countries such organisations have representatives. (107588)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides financial support for two non-governmental organisations that assist British Nationals in prison abroad: Prisoners Abroad and Reprieve. Prisoners Abroad received core funding of £150,000 in Financial Year (FY) 2004-05, £145,500 in FY 2005-06 and £100,000 in FY 2006-07. We also pay £35,000 per year to Prisoners Abroad for a Human Rights Adviser to be seconded to our Consular Directorate. Prisoners Abroad is a welfare charity which is solely based in the UK and does not have any representatives overseas.

Reprieve received FCO funding of £20,000 in FY 2005-06 and £30,000 in FY 2006-07. Reprieve provides assistance to British nationals facing execution around the world regardless of guilt or innocence. The FCO provides funding to Reprieve UK, which is based in London. Reprieve has sister organisations in the USA and Australia and UK-based staff travel overseas regularly to work on individual cases.