Written question asked by Tam Dalyell (Labour) on Friday, 1 April 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 April 2005. It was answered by Tony Blair (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 April 2005 on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister

Question: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his Answer of 16th March, Official Report, column 301W, on Iraq, whether it was on his instructions that the Attorney General went to Washington in relation to the legal situation relating to war against Iraq on 21st and 22nd July 2003 to have talks with the US Defense Department General Counsel and the Australian Justice Minister.

Answer: Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2005, Official Report, column 301W, on Iraq, whether it was on his instructions that the Attorney-General went to Washington in relation to the legal situation relating to war against Iraq on 21 and 22 July 2003 to have talks with the US Defense Department General Counsel and the Australian Justice Minister. [224703] The Prime Minister: The Attorney-General's visit to Washington in July 2003 did not relate to the military action in Iraq. As the Attorney-General made clear in a statement issued on 22 July 2003, he had discussions with senior representatives of the US Administration about the British detainees in Guantanamo Bay with a view to ensuring that the detainees, if prosecuted, were guaranteed fair trials in accordance with international standards and to make clear the Government's opposition to the death penalty.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c1464-5W;432 c1461W; 224703
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Armed conflict Attorney General Iraq Legal opinion International law Iraq conflict
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk