Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Judd (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 4 June 2008.

US Prison Ships

Question: My Lords, does my noble friend agree that in the context of our special relationship with the United States it is crucial to take every opportunity to remind it that, if we are to contain radicalisation and the growth of extremism in Islamic and other communities, it is essential that all actions taken are transparently within the context of international law and that anything that is done should on no account be counterproductive in terms of driving people into the arms of extremists?

Answer: My Lords, indeed, and that is what we do say to our American friends. I reject any assertion that we can no longer trust the United States on these matters. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary made it absolutely clear on 21 February that we do not believe that we should conduct foreign policy with our most important bilateral partner on the basis of disbelief or a presumption of deceit. The US gave us its earlier assurances in good faith and we accepted those assurances and referred to them publicly in good faith. When the United States realised that a mistake had been made, it came to us directly, without delay.

Secondary information