Proceeding contribution from Ian McCartney (Labour) in the House of Commons on Monday, 8 January 2007. It occurred during Adjournment debate on Bisher al-Rawi.
Bisher al-Rawi
I cannot add to what I have already said or make it any clearer. I thought that I had made it absolutely clear in my response to what he said. I give him an absolute assurance—[Interruption.] I am trying to be as helpful and open as I possibly can. I hope that one thing that will be clear to the hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends is our genuine desire to resolve this matter in an effective way until this gentleman returns to the UK. There are some difficult issues, so I may not be able to answer or resolve all the questions in the way that the hon. Gentleman wishes. I am not able to respond to every question in the way that he wants, but there is one underlying fact. He asked whether we were working to return his constituent and the answer is yes. He asks whether we are working productively and the answer is yes. We are putting a great deal of effort to ensure that we proceed as best we can. I am giving the underlying assurance that the hon. Gentleman seeks through this Adjournment debate. I can reassure him that we are pursuing the matter vigorously with the US Government and that we will continue to do so. It is important to recognise that these are sensitive and complicated issues. The hon. Gentleman has clarified his view in respect of them and they require detailed discussions with the various interested departments, as he suggested. He discussed his efforts to secure his constituent’s release, but the House will understand that discussions about returning UK nationals from Guantanamo Bay take time. They took many months in the previous cases and similar issues are at play in this case. [Interruption.] I understood that this debate could continue until 10.30 pm. Am I allowed to continue? I apologise; I thought that someone just said that there was only a minute to go. I want to reassure the hon. Gentleman that we are committed to securing Mr. al-Rawi’s release from Guantanamo Bay and his return to the UK. We believe that our work should be allowed to come to a successful conclusion. It being Ten o’clock, the motion for the Adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put. Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn.—[Kevin Brennan.]
Secondary information
- Type
- Proceeding contribution
- Reference
- 455 c123-4
- Session
- 2006-07
- Chamber / Committee
- House of Commons chamber
- Subjects
- Detainees Human rights Iraq Prisoners Terrorism Torture USA Afghanistan Islam Guantanamo Bay al-Rawi, Bisher
- Link
- View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk
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