§ Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received letters sent to him on(a) 6 and (b) 9 July by solicitors representing Mr. Moazzam Begg. [127139]
§ Mr. MullinThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office received two letters dated 6 July and 9 July from Mr. Begg's solicitors. My hon. Friend the Minister for Europe replied to the letter dated 9 July on 21 August. A substantive response to the 6 July letter will be sent shortly.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with US officials concerning the possibility of Mr. Moazzam Begg and Mr. Feroz Abbasi stranding trial in a US civil court; and if he will make a statement. [127171]
§ Mr. StrawMr. Begg and Mr. Abbasi have been designated as eligible to stand trial before a Military Commission, but have not yet been charged.
The Attorney-General has recently held a number of rounds of talks with the US Administration. His objective has been to ensure that the British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay, if prosecuted, are assured 325W of fair trials that meet generally recognised principles, wherever those trials take place, and to make clear our opposition to the death penalty. We are discussing a number of options with the US Government. Further talks are planned for the near future.