HC Deb 27 May 2004 vol 421 cc1816-7W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the United States Supreme Court concerning the Alien Torts Act. [176327]

Mr. MacShane

The Government, together with the Australian and Swiss Governments, filed an amicus brief in the US Supreme Court on 23 January 2004 in the Sosav. Alvarez case which may serve as a test case for the US Alien Tort Statute (ATS). The concern addressed by the Government's amicus brief is the use of the ATS to bring suits for damages brought by non-US nationals or companies in relation to events occurring outside the US. The US Supreme Court is expected to rule on the ATS case at the end of June. A copy of the amicus brief will be placed in the Library of the House.

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