To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2007, Official Report, column 1125W, on Algeria: deportation, what the most recent information is which she has received on the four individuals; what further steps embassy officials have taken; and if she will make a statement. (124380)

Embassy officials in Algiers have remained in close contact with the Algerian Government concerning the situation of the four individuals deported from the UK between 20 and 27 January 2007. Algerian Government officials have confirmed that “K” was detained on 24 January and released on 4 February; that “P” was detained on 27 January and released on 30 January; that Reda Dendani (“Q”) was detained on 25 January and subsequently brought before a court and charged with membership of an armed terrorist group under Article 87 of the Algerian Criminal Code as well as assumption of the name of a third party under Article 249 of that same Code; and that “H” was detained on 31 January and subsequently brought before a court and charged with membership of an armed terrorist group under Article 87 of the Code. Each individual was either charged or released before the expiration of the 12 day detention period authorised under the Algerian Criminal Procedure Code. Embassy officials continue to stay in touch with Algerian Government officials.