Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2014 to Question 214129 on Libyan personnel on Bassingbourn base, for what reasons 16 Libyan General Purpose Force trainees were arrested; what information his Department holds on the whereabouts of those 11 trainees not remanded in custody; and if he will make a statement.

During the course of training, eleven trainees were arrested but not subsequently charged. All eleven were returned to Libya shortly after their release from police custody with the cooperation of the Libyan authorities. The alleged offences were grievous bodily harm, sexual assault, common assault, rape and an offence under section 4 of the public order act (causing fear or provocation of violence).

Cambridgeshire Constabulary has advised that the release of further information at this stage could both prejudice the ongoing police investigations into trainees who are currently facing criminal charges and compromise any future criminal justice proceedings.