Iraq: Captured Prisoners and British Indian Ocean Territory

HL Deb 06 January 2004 vol 657 cc30-1WA

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether any prisoners captured in Iraq have been held within 100 miles of Diego Garcia; if so, when were they held there; and by whom. [HL399]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

No prisoners captured in Iraq are, or ever have been, under detention either on Diego Garcia or on any of the islands of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), or anywhere in the territorial waters belonging to BIOT. Nor have any such prisoners been detained on board any vessel, wherever it may be, after it has in some way transited through any place in BLOT.