§ Tom CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States Administration, and with whom, on the cases of abuse that have taken place against Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [173074]
§ Mr. StrawI have regular discussions with senior members of the US Administration on a wide variety of issues concerning Iraq. It is not our practice to make public the detail of those discussions under exemption 1(b) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Commander of the United States forces in Iraq has had with(a) the current British representative or his predecessor to the Coalition Provisional Authority and (b) the Commander of British Forces in Iraq about the allegations made in respect of the abuse of detainees at (i) the Abu Ghraib prison and (ii) other prisons in Iraq; and what the outcome has been of communications on the matter. [173338]
§ Mr. StrawBy the time UK officials were aware of the specific allegations the US authorities had already begun detailed investigations. We have had a number of discussions with US military and civilian authorities about the need to improve detention procedures. The US authorities have been taking measures to improve those procedures. The US military established a high level military inquiry under General Antonio Taguba in late January.
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