HL Deb 30 June 2003 vol 650 cc63-4WA
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prisoners in total have been captured by British forces in Iraq and transferred to a United States internment facility; and, of that total, how many have been citizens of:

  1. (a) Iraq
  2. (b) the United Kingdom
  3. (c) the United States
  4. (d) other countries. [HL2808]

Lord Bach

The United Kingdom has transferred all of its prisoners of war to United States internment facilities. As of 26 June 2003, the number of prisoners who had been captured was some 4,000. None was a citizen of the UK or US; 28 were nationals from countries other than Iraq.

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether all prisoners captured by British forces in Iraq are, in their view, prisoners of war. [HL2809]

Lord Bach

All individuals captured or detained by United Kingdom forces in the Gulf are afforded an appropriate status in accordance with the Geneva Convention. Not every individual detained is classified as a prisoner of war.

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any prisoners held in Iraq are considered to be "enemy combatants" rather than prisoners of war. [HL2810]

Lord Bach

The Geneva Conventions of 1949 recognise the term "combatant". Any prisoner captured during an armed conflict whose status is deemed to be that of a "combatant", would be entitled to be treated as a prisoner of war.