Written question asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Davies of Oldham (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 December 2005.

Extraordinary Rendition Flights

Question: Further to the statement by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 8 December (Official Report, col. GC 169), whether the Chicago convention needs to be interpreted and applied in a way which is compatible with the obligations imposed by the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention Against Torture, the European Convention on Human Rights and customary international law, so as to ensure that the states parties to the convention do not exercise the right to international air travel in a manner which facilitates acts of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment in breach of international human rights law.

Answer: Her Majesty’s Government abide by their obligations under international law and 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. The Government believe their application and interpretation of the Chicago convention is entirely compatible with their other international obligations.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2958; 676 c251-2WA
Session: 2005-06
Related items: Civil Aviation Bill
Thursday, 8 December 2005
Proceeding contributions
House of Lords; Extraordinary Rendition Flights
Wednesday, 1 March 2006
Written questions
House of Lords; Extraordinary Rendition Flights
Tuesday, 17 January 2006
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Detainees Aviation European Convention on Human Rights Inhuman treatment International law Prisoners' transfers Terrorism Torture Rendition UN Convention against Torture International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Convention on International Civil Aviation
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk