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Immigration: Detainees

Answer

On 6 July 2010 my right honourable friend the Prime Minister announced a package of measures to address allegations of UK complicity in the mistreatment of detainees held by other countries. These allegations, while unproven, are damaging and tarnish the reputation of the UK as a country that believes in human rights, justice, fairness and the rule of law. As a part of those measures, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister commissioned an independent inquiry into UK involvement in the improper treatment of detainees held overseas in order to establish the facts behind those allegations and draw a line under the issues of the past. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister set out the parameters of the inquiry in a letter to the inquiry chair, Sir Peter Gibson. He outlined that the focus of the inquiry should be whether, and to what extent, the UK Government and their intelligence agencies were involved in improper treatment of detainees held by other countries in counterterrorism operations overseas. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister asked that the inquiry focus in particular on the aftermath of the attacks of 11 September 2001 and particularly cases involving the detention of UK nationals and residents in Guantanamo Bay. He asked that the inquiry report back to him within one year of commencement. The inquiry is intended to reach an authoritative view on the actions of the state and security services and make proper recommendations for the future.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

3904; 722 c235-6WA

Session

2010-12

Related items

Treatment of Detainees
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons

Subjects

Abuse Detainees Intelligence services Terrorism

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk