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Proceeding contribution from David Miliband (Labour) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 21 February 2008. It occurred during Ministerial statement on Terrorist Suspects (Renditions).


Terrorist Suspects (Renditions)

As I said earlier, the right hon. and learned Gentleman has pursued this case with complete public-spiritedness and seriousness of purpose, and I entirely recognise that. If there are other individual cases that he believes that we should be investigating, of course they will be added to the list. I should say to him that this information has come to light as a result of an American investigation that was brought to us. That shows that the American Government recognise that it is as much in their interest as it is in ours that accuracy is maintained in these areas. That is important, without in any way excusing the mistakes—I used that word in my statement—that have been made. It is important that the agreements that we have with the United States in respect of Diego Garcia have the force of treaty. The letters of 1966 and 1976 have the force of treaty, and they are legally binding agreements. I hope that on due consideration the right hon. and learned Gentleman will reflect on how to improve those procedures—perhaps during the inquiry that the Foreign Affairs Committee is conducting, which he has now joined—but I hope that he will agree that they are set down with statutory force under the current system.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
472 c554 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Detainees Aviation British overseas territories Prisoners' transfers Terrorism Torture USA Rendition Diego Garcia
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk