Written question asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 6 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 December 2005. It was answered by Jack Straw (Labour) on Monday, 12 December 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Terrorist Suspects (Renditions)
- Question
- To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he was first informed that the United States was conducting international renditions of terrorist suspects; and what representations he has made to the US administration on such renditions.
- Answer
-
The term ““rendition”” is currently being used to describe informal transfers of individuals in a wide range of circumstances. Whether any particular ““rendition”” is lawful depends on the facts of each individual case. Where we are requested to assist another State and our assistance would be lawful, we will decide whether or not to assist taking into account all the circumstances. We would not assist in any case if to do so would put us in breach of UK law or our international obligations. In particular, we would not facilitate the transfer of an individual from or through the UK to another State where there were grounds to believe that the person would face a real risk of torture.Careful research by officials has been unable to identify any occasion since 11 September 2001, or earlier in the Bush administration, when we received a request for permission by the United States (US) for a rendition through UK territory or airspace, nor are we otherwise aware of such a case.Additional research covering the remainder of the period of office of this Government (i.e. back to May 1997) has been undertaken. This shows there were some renditions via the UK during that period. Specifically, we have identified two definite occasions in 1998 when requests were made by the US. These occasions, for which records have been identified, were for transfer to the US for the person concerned to stand trial there. As the then Home Secretary I agreed these requests.Although confirmatory records have yet to be identified, we believe that there may have been one or two other possible cases, also in 1998, which concerned requests by the US but for transfer to a third country. We have information on one such case which is incomplete and does not tell us whether the request was refused. We also have information on a case based on the recollection of officials involved in such matters, without any confirmatory records. The officials' recollection is that the case was refused. It is likely, but not certain, that the two cases are in fact one and the same. I have some recollection of such a case, but, given the passage of time, I cannot be certain. The search for records continues.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 36414; 440 c1652-3W;440 c1652-3W
- Session
- 2005-06
- Related items
- Subjects
- Detainees Deportation Aviation Aircraft Terrorism USA Rendition
- Link
- View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk
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- 2013-11-25 04:31:16 +0000
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