§ 7. James Purnell (Stalybridge and Hyde)What recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on measures to combat international terrorism. [24468]
§ The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Geoffrey Hoon)As reaffirmed during discussions at NATO Defence Ministers' meetings in Brussels on 18 and 19 December, the Alliance is committed to countering the threat posed by international terrorism. In particular, Defence Ministers agreed that the Alliance's military concepts should evolve in keeping with the threat posed by international terrorism, and that NATO's defence capabilities should be adequate to meet the demands that it will face.
§ James PurnellI thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. I am sure that, like me, he welcomes Russia's support for the coalition against international terrorism. What implications will that have for Russia's future relationship with NATO?
§ Mr. HoonI have had several opportunities to meet Russian colleagues, including the December NATO ministerial meetings, when we discussed the impact of international terrorism. The Russian Defence Minister visited the United Kingdom on 19 to 21 December for extended talks on the fight against terrorism. He informed us that he had issued instructions that a hospital that the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations had set up north of Kabul should be available for British and other ISAF troops if required.
Russian support in the current crisis has been exceptional and has led us to believe that we have a unique opportunity to enter into a new security relationship with Russia. Consequently, the Prime Minister suggested in November new arrangements for the NATO-Russia relationship, including a new NATO-Russia council, operating with 20 members rather than the current 19 plus one. We hope that the arrangement will be in place at or around this year's spring ministerial meetings.
§ Mr. Nicholas Soames (Mid-Sussex)Will the right hon. Gentleman join me in expressing the House's appreciation of the tremendous work of British troops in providing security and stability in Afghanistan and many other locations? Does he agree that many of those troops are double-hatted for NATO purposes? Despite the 10 onerous and unavoidable operations in which they are engaged, it is essential that the tempo of their training to fight at the highest intensity is maintained. Will he assure us that, whatever the demands and obligations that the troops are invited to undertake, the tempo of training will be maintained at all costs?
§ Mr. HoonI thank the hon. Gentleman for his support for British deployment to Afghanistan and his general observations about British troops. He is right to emphasise the importance of the tempo of training. Like other hon. Members, he is aware that members of Britain's armed forces recently participated in Operation Saif Sareea II, which is the largest such exercise since the Gulf war. All aspects of our requirement to deploy rapidly were thoroughly and rigorously tested. Recent events in Afghanistan have again demonstrated that ability. The hon. Gentleman is right; training must be maintained if we are to keep up those high standards.
§ Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)In his discussions with his NATO counterparts, what has the Defence Secretary had to say about the role of a NATO member, namely the United States, in removing prisoners from Afghanistan, hooded and manacled together, and flying them in that condition for 24 hours to an airbase in Cuba? Is that legal? What law is being applied? Does the Secretary of State not think that, if the international community is preaching democracy and the rule of law, it is time for it to practise it, rather than taking people out of Afghanistan illegally?
§ Mr. HoonAs I indicated earlier, there is no doubting the legality of the way in which those combatants have been imprisoned, or the legality of the right of the United States or any other country to remove them for trial. There is also no doubting the United States' commitment, publicly expressed, to recognise and maintain standards of international law relating to the way in which prisoners are dealt with.