§ Lord Lamont of Lerwickasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have been notified by the International Criminal Court of attempts by any party to bring a case against the United Kingdom Government in respect of the war against Iraq or the occupation of Iraq by British troops. [HL2785]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) wrote to Her Majesty's Ambassador in The Hague on 15 December 2003 forwarding a complaint made by the Athens Bar Association concerning British military operations in Iraq. We have not been notified by the prosecutor of any other petitions received by the ICC.
In accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute (Article 15(2)) the prosecutor asked the Government to provide information on the allegations. The Government have provided a formal reply to the prosecutor which, inter alia, gives the Government's response to the allegations and sets out the UK national procedures for the investigations of such allegations. The Government believe this reply is a convincing refutation of the allegations.