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Civil Aviation Bill

I support what has been said. Rendition, as practised by the Americans, is wholly unacceptable. I hope that my noble friend will not prevaricate because the Government ought not to do that. What has been done ought to be condemned by them without doubt. I thank the noble Baroness for introducing the subject today. I have tried on several occasions, as yet unsuccessfully, to table a Question on this issue. What she said is unquestionably acceptable. The Judicial Committee of your Lordships’ House announced its conclusion that confessions procured by torture are not worthy of consideration. In my view, Condoleezza Rice has juggled with words and engaged in convoluted briefing. The Americans are not prepared to say outright that the practice is unacceptable. That is all my noble friend is required to do—to say that the practice ought not to be condoned by any government. I do not know whether the words of the amendment are acceptable to my noble friend, but the principle is beyond doubt. The principle is that rendition should not be accepted by any government, least of all the Labour Government here.