HC Deb 14 July 2003 vol 409 cc48-9W
Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the US administration on the timescale for the construction of court rooms at Guantanamo Bay. [124228]

Mr. MacShane

None.

We continue, however, to press the US to resolve the position of the detainees.

Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on proposals to construct an execution chamber at Guantanamo Bay. [124229]

Mr. MacShane

We are not aware of a US decision to construct such facilities.

The US is aware of the UK's fundamental opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.

Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made to the US administration on the future of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. [124230]

Mr. MacShane

I refer my hon. Friend to the Statement given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Chris Mullin) on 7 July 2003,Official Report, column 751.

We continue to press the US to resolve the position of the detainees in Guantanamo Bay.

Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the US to set a date for bringing to trial the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. [124231]

Mr. MacShane

I refer my hon. Friend to the Statement given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Chris Mullin) on 7 July 2003,Official Report, column 751.

Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on(a) the total number of UK citizens who are prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, (b) their country of origin, (c) how many have been returned to their country of origin and (d) what their ages are. [124233]

Mr. MacShane

The British Government are not party to this information as a matter of course.

I understand, however, that there are approximately 680 detainees of 42 nationalities in Guantanamo Bay of which 3 are under 16.9 of the detainees are British. I also understand that 41 detainees have been released by the US Government.

Helen Jackson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from human rights organisations on the treatment of detainees who are UK citizens at Guantanamo Bay. [124234]

Mr. MacShane

There is regular contact between the FCO and human rights NGOs, including on the question of the detainees in Guantanamo Bay.