Written question asked by Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Monday, 14 February 2011.

Guantanamo Bay

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent representations they have made to the Government of the United States about their reasons for not releasing Shaker Omer from imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay.

Answer: On 6 July 2010 my right honourable friend the Prime Minister confirmed to Parliament that we will continue to request the release and return to the UK of Shaker Aamer. The Government have reiterated this request to the US Government on numerous occasions. Most recently, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary raised Mr Aamer's case with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on 17 November 2010, and following this my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister raised Mr Aamer’s case when he met Secretary Clinton at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe summit in Kazakhstan on 1 December 2010. Senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are continuing discussions with their US counterparts on this issue. The outcome of these discussions remains uncertain. Any decision regarding Mr Aamer’s release remains in the hands of the United States Government.

Secondary information