HL Deb 20 February 1996 vol 569 c67WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, given that they "cannot he sure from one moment to another what the intentions of Libyan Government may be" [Sir Nicholas Bonsor, Commons Hansard, 7 February 1996, col. 4481, and in the light of Sir Nicholas's previous statement that "the Government will do everything we can to ensure that those responsible [for the Lockerbie disaster] are brought to justice" [loc. cit., col. 4461, they will now agree that the two accused Libyans should he tried in the Hague by Scottish judges and in accordance with Scottish law, including a Scottish jury, and if not why not.

Lord Chesham

A trial in a third country of the two Libyans accused of the Lockerbie bombing remains unacceptable to HMG for the reasons given by the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the honourable member for Upminster. on 7 February 1996 in Another Place [Commons Hansard col. 449].

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In view of the absence of an extradition treaty between the United Kingdom and Libya, why they expect the Libyan Government to concur with their view that Libya should extradite two Libyan citizens to this country.

Lord Chesham

Her Majesty's Government has requested the Libyan Government to surrender the two accused for trial in Scotland or the US. It has not sought their extradition. Our request has been endorsed by the UN Security Council.