HC Deb 02 April 2003 vol 402 cc741-2W
Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 24 March 2003,Official Report, column 70W, on Guantanamo Bay, whether he has (a) requested formal consular access to Guantanamo Bay from the US authorities and (b) called for the status of the prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay to be decided by a tribunal; and if he will make a statement. [105363]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The information is as follows:

  1. (a) Yes.
  2. (b) Although the Foreign Secretary has not called for a tribunal to decide the detainees status, he has raised the issue of the detainees with Colin Powell several times, most recently on 23 January. Officials are in frequent contact.

Date Countries Subject
31 July 1974 USSR Situation in Cyprus
30 October 1974 France; UK; US Relationship between UN and South Africa
6 June 1975 France; UK; US Situation in Namibia
11 August 1975 US Application for membership for Republic of South Vietnam
11 August 1975 US Application for membership for Democratic Republic of Vietnam
30 September 1975 US Application for membership for Republic of South Vietnam
30 September 1975 US Application for membership for Democratic Republic of Vietnam
8 December 1975 US Situation in the Middle East
26 January 1976 US Middle East, including Palestine question
6 February 1976 France Situation in the Comoros
25 March 1976 US Situation arising from recent developments in occupied Arab territories
23 June 1976 US Application for membership for Angola
29 June 1976 US Question of the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people
19 October 1976 France; UK; US Situation in Namibia
15 November 1976 US Application for membership for Socialist republic of Vietnam
31 October 1977 France; UK; US Question of South Africa
31 October 1977 France; UK; US Question of South Africa

We have made clear that whatever their status the detainees are entitled to humane treatment and, if prosecuted, a fair trial. We have been encouraging the US to move forward with the process of determining the future of the British detainees. We shall continue to do so.