§ Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What has been the cost to the taxpayer of the provision of personal protection to Mr Salman Rushdie.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)My Lords, it has long been the practice not to disclose the actual costs of protecting a particular individual. If those costs were revealed, it would be possible to estimate the scale of protection. That would prejudice the security of the individual concerned.
§ Lord AhmedMy Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for his reply. Now that Mr Rushdie is living in Manhattan, how long will we continue to provide his personal protection in New York? Is the Minister aware that Mr Rushdie charges 1 million dollars in advance for his publications, and that he has recently signed a contract with Random House for five books? Will he be paying tax to the British Government or the American Government?
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, it would be invidious for any Minister to discuss the tax affairs of any UK national. The level of protection which will be provided to Mr Rushdie during his time in America is entirely a matter for the American authorities. Perhaps 2 I should add that there is a close working liaison and relationship between the United Kingdom and United States on law enforcement. However, Mr Rushdie's treatment and level of protection in America are a matter for the American authorities.
§ Lord PalmerMy Lords, can the Minister tell the House what percentage of the costs for Mr Rushdie's personal protection will eventually be recouped by Her Majesty's Government?
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, again that is a question which I am unable to answer.
§ Lord AveburyMy Lords, can the Minister confirm that a bounty of 2.4 million dollars on the head of Mr Rushdie by the Iranian 15 Khordad Foundation exists and has not been withdrawn as a result of the conversations between Mr Cook and the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kharrazi? Can the Minister tell the House whether his right honourable friend Mr Cook has any plans to raise that matter with the Iranian authorities when he visits Tehran?
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, I am not aware of discussions of that nature.
§ Lord BraggMy Lords, is the Minister aware that Mr Salman Rushdie is domiciled in London? He is a British subject and the British Government pay nothing towards his protection in New York. Is he further aware that many people in Britain are proud of the effective protection given to Salman Rushdie, as they would be of similar protection given to any British subject?
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, I agree with all three points made by the noble Lord.
§ Viscount WaverleyMy Lords, can the Minister tell the House the last time that a real threat was made against Mr Rushdie?
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, that is an operational matter which has to be left in the knowledge and safe hands of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
§ Baroness WhitakerMy Lords, can the Minister confirm that when Mr Rushdie was last resident in this country he paid a high proportion of his protection costs out of his own pocket?
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, again, that is not information which I am at liberty to disclose.