Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Wallace of Saltaire (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Wednesday, 4 June 2008.

US Prison Ships

Question: My Lords, I find it astounding that Her Majesty’s Government can say only that they are ““not aware”” and cannot tell us what they know. We are constantly told that we are the closest ally of the United States, yet we are now, several years after the Iraq war, still uninformed as to whether British citizens have been held on US prison ships and whether American prison ships have been posted in UK territorial waters, for example off Diego Garcia. Can the Government now assure us that they will discover what the situation has been and publish it?

Answer: My Lords, I hope that the House will understand that it is hard to prove a negative. The Government are not aware of any cases such as those referred to, but it is not possible to offer a categorical assurance that this has not happened without our knowledge. Of course, if noble Lords are aware of any British citizens who have been unlawfully held on a naval vessel by the United States, they should provide this information to the Government as a matter of urgency so that it can be investigated. The House will know that my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary, following the declarations of 15 February and the Statement made in both Houses on 21 February, has written to the Secretary of State in the United States with a number of questions about these matters.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 702 c157
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Detainees British nationality Iraq Prisons Navy Warships USA Diego Garcia
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk