Guantanamo Bay (Hansard, 3 March 2004)

§ Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United 995W Kingdom recognises the legal right of the United States to build and operate a prison camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. [157156]

§ Mr. Mullin
The extent to which arrangements between the US and Cuba permit the US to build and operate facilities in Guantanamo Bay is primarily a matter for the two Governments concerned.

§ Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information has been provided to him by(a) the United States Department of Defense and (b) other US authorities in respect of information obtained from the four detainees holding British citizenship being kept in detention at Camp Delta at Guantanamo Bay. [157157]

§ Mr. Mullin
There are nine British nationals currently detained at Guantanamo Bay.
In accordance with exemption 1 of Part 2 the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, we do not disclose information received in confidence from a foreign government.

§ Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the locations where British(a) citizens and (b) residents were detained before being taken to the American prison camp at Guantanamo Bay; on what dates (i) British diplomats and (ii) members of the security and intelligence services visited each detainee; and whether any British (A) citizen and (B) resident being held at Guantanamo Bay has been permitted a visit from a legal representative. [157188]

§ Mr. Mullin
In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, we are not in a position to give details of where the British nationals at Guantanamo Bay were detained prior to their transfer there. Exemption 15 of Part 2 the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies. British diplomats visited the British detainees in January 2002, February 2002, May 2002, November 2002, April 2003 and September 2003. Officials have questioned the British detainees about matters relevant to national security. The Government have a duty to protect the UK's national security. As far as we are aware, no British nationals or British residents have been permitted a visit from any legal representative.