HL Deb 22 February 2005 vol 669 cc187-8WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why they did not try to reach an agreement with the Governments of Algeria and Tunisia concerning the treatment of their citizens detained in HM Belmarsh Prison in the event of their return to those countries, when they were first arrested under the Anti-terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001. [HL1046]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)

Our assessment at the time the legislation was introduced was that we were unlikely to be able to obtain undertakings which would enable removals to proceed in the face of a legal challenge.

We have since revised this assessment, and have been pursuing for some time the possibility of establishing framework agreements—of the sort contemplated by the committee chaired by the noble Lord, Lord Newton of Braintree, in its report published in December 2003—intended to pave the way for agreements to return specific individuals.

These discussions are still continuing.