Written question asked by Harry Cohen (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 October 2008. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Monday, 6 October 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Diego Garcia: Detainees

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2008, Official Report, columns 932-3W, on Diego Garcia: detainees, what reports his Department has received of allegations relating to the USS Peleliu; and what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the matter.

Answer: We have received allegations relating to detainees being held on US naval vessels, including the USS Peleliu, from human rights non-governmental organisations. We have asked the US to clarify their position on detainees being held on ships and to verify previous assurances that detainees had never been held on ships in the territorial waters of Diego Garcia.The US confirmed to us that no detainees have been held on ships within Diego Garcia's territorial waters since 11 September 2001. They also informed us that they do not operate detention facilities for terrorist suspects onboard ships, although US naval vessels were used in the early days of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan to screen and temporarily hold a very small number of individuals pending their transfer to land-based detention facilities. These ships were not located within the territorial waters of Diego Garcia. We have no information to suggest that these ships were supplied from the island.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 222706; 480 c220-1W
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Diego Garcia: Detainees
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Rendition
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk