§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to his answer of 2 November 2001,Official Report, column 862W, on foreign armed forces, what protections under international instruments are available for individuals (a) serving under the command of and (b) associated with the armed forces of the former Government of Afghanistan. [29251]
§ Peter HainI have been asked to reply.
Categories of persons who are prisoners of war (POWs), or who are to be treated as POWs, are set out in Geneva Convention III and, where applicable, Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions. The legal status of a detainee has to be determined by reference to these 1102W provisions in each individual case. Those detainees who do not enjoy prisoner of war status must in any event be treated humanely.