§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 2 December (WA45–46), whether they consider the British detainees at Camp X-ray in Cuba to be in good health; whether the men can receive and send letters to their families; and when they expect that British officials will next visit the detainees. [HL581]
§ Baroness AmosBritish officials paid a fourth visit to Guantananmo Bay between 11 and 15 November. The purpose of the visit was to ask questions relevant to national security, to check on the welfare of the seven British detainees last seen in May and to establish the identity and nationality of two further detainees believed to have British nationality. As a result of these inquiries, one was identified as British. The other detainee did not have British nationality. The officials were from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Security Service.
The FCO official met the detainees individually, US officials were able to observe the interviews. The official saw no visible signs of mistreatment. Some detainees reported minor medical problems and the official subsequently raised a number of these with the camp authorities.
The official passed to the camp authorities some personal letters for some of the detainees and was able to give oral messages to others. We have passed on to the families oral messages which were received and have briefed them on details of the detainees' circumstances. For reasons of privacy these details are not disclosed in this Answer. Detainees continue to be able to send and receive letters through the camp 64WA authorities and through the ICRC, although there is some concern about delays.
All the detainees continue to be housed in accommodation which includes individual sleeping, washing and toilet facilities. They continue to be able to practise their religion freely, to take exercise and to have access to reading material.
The visiting officials found the US camp authorities to be open and co-operative.