§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 1 February 2002,Official Report, column 599W, if he will specify the appropriate guidance to the UK forces operating in Afghanistan to ensure compliance with the UK's international legal obligations; and if prisoners captured in Afghanistan by UK forces will be accorded prisoner of war status under the Geneva Convention. [35032]
§ Mr. HoonI am withholding the specific details of the guidance referred to, in accordance with Exemption (1a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Whether any detainee is a prisoner of war depends on the facts of each individual case. It is for the Detaining Power in the first instance to take a view.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what progress has been made in securing commitment from the Turkish Government to take over the UK-led ISAF command in Afghanistan; [33188]
(2) what other countries have offered to take over the UK-led ISAF command in Afghanistan. [33189]
§ Mr. HoonWe are working closely with Turkey and a number of other countries on the handing over of the command of the International Security Assistance Force.