The delegation for next month’s Hajj was launched by Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne and Conservative co-chair and cabinet minister Baroness Warsi in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to London Prince Mohammad Bin Nawaf Bin Abdul Aziz.
But Browne spelled out that this year, the first under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, Britain would only be offering consular assistance, with one official being sent from London and two being temporarily seconded in Saudi Arabia.
Unlike the previous ten delegations, no Muslim volunteers were being sent and no health care was being provided by medical professionals.
Hajj delegations were launched by the previous Labour government in 2000, Britain was trumpeted to be the first non-Muslim country in the West to offer facilities and provisions for their own pilgrims.
When updating its travel advice for Hajj pilgrims earlier this month, Browne said those going would need to take responsibility for their own pre-travel preparations and ensure they have a valid Meningococcal Meningitis vaccination certificate, It was also highlighted that the Saudi Ministry of Health has now established 21 hospitals to provide health care to pilgrims free of charge. It is estimated that 25,000 British Muslims perform Hajj every year.
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