§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the visits made in January, February and May by officials of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and security services to the seven or more British citizens detained without trial by the United States at Camp X-ray in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; whether these men were in good mental and physical health; when they are expected to be released, or whether they are suspected of war crimes or other offences; if so, when they will be charged; and by whom. [HL125]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanI refer the noble Lord to the statement made by my honourable friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign Office (Mr Ben Bradshaw) in another place on 21 January (Official Report, col. 623) and his reply to my honourable friend Mr John Robertson in another place on 4 March (col. 69W) and to the answer given by my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign Office (Mr Mike O'Brien) to my honourable friend Christine Russell in another place on 13 June (col. 69W). The purpose of the visits was to ask questions relating to the identity, nationality and welfare of the detainees as well as questions relating to national security.
'We continue to discuss the circumstances of the British detainees with the US regularly, to press the US 46WA as regards the future of the detainees and to encourage the US administration to move forward with the process of deciding how to deal with them. We have not been informed that any of the detainees now held at Guantanamo Bay has so far been charged with any offence by the US. The question of whether the British detainees might face criminal charges and prosecution in the UK is for the police and the prosecuting authorities.