Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Monday, 18 October 2010.

Abdul Baset Al Megrahi

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Shutt of Greetland on 27 September (WA 428), whether they will apply for copies of the medical information on Abdul Baset Al Megrahi and the details of his location sent monthly to East Renfrewshire Council on the grounds of their application being for the purposes of safeguarding national security and the prevention and detection of crime, thereby testing the exemption from non-disclosure under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Answer: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not intend to apply for this information; we do not believe these exemptions apply and we consider it is unnecessary to test them. It is not apparent to the FCO that Abdul Baset Al Megrahi currently presents a threat to the UK, in terms of national security or crime, nor that disclosure of his medical information or details of his location would reveal either.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2425; 721 c95WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Abdul Baset Al Megrahi
Monday, 27 September 2010
Written questions
House of Lords; Abdul Baset Al Megrahi
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Disclosure of information Data protection Bombings National security Medical records Location Prisoners' release Lockerbie Foreign and Commonwealth Office Libya al Megrahi, Abdelbasit Ali Mohmed East Renfrewshire Council
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk