Hostages: British Nationality

Mr. Ancram
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens his Department has been informed are being held hostage abroad; in which countries they are being held; and for how long they have been held in each case.

Gillian Merron
As of 5 May 2009 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is providing consular assistance to the families of eight British citizens being held hostage abroad. Five British citizens have been held in Iraq since May 2007, one in Somalia since April 2008, one in Nigeria since September 2008 and one in Mali since January 2009.