Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2025 to Question 76596 and the Answer of 12 January 2023 to Question 119101 on Guantanamo Bay: Closures, whether her Department's policy on granting visas to former Guantanamo Bay detainees has changed following its decision to change its policy on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The first priority of Government is protecting national security and the safety of UK citizens.
The Home Office uses various tools to detect and disrupt travel by those posing a national security risk and all applications for visas or UK immigration status are subject to comprehensive checks.
It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on operational security matters or specific cases. However, where an individual is assessed as presenting a risk to our country, we take swift and robust action.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2025 to Question 76596 and the Answer of 12 January 2023 to Question 119101 on Guantanamo Bay: Closures, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on the UK's international human rights obligations of the change in her Department's policy on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Hon Member will be aware that it has been the stated intention of the US administration since January 2025 to expand the facilities at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to serve as a large-scale migration detention centre. As stated in the answer to Question 76596, that remains a matter for the US.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2025 to Question 76596 and the Answer of 12 January 2023 to Question 119101 on Guantanamo Bay: Closures, what discussions did her Department have with its US counterparts ahead of the decision to change the UK Government's policy on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Hon Member will be aware that it has been the stated intention of the US administration since January 2025 to expand the facilities at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to serve as a large-scale migration detention centre. As stated in the answer to Question 76596, that remains a matter for the US.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2025 to Question 76596 and the Answer of 12 January 2023 to Question 119101 on Guantanamo Bay: Closures, which Ministers were involved in the decision to change the UK Government's policy on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Hon Member will be aware that it has been the stated intention of the US administration since January 2025 to expand the facilities at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to serve as a large-scale migration detention centre. As stated in the answer to Question 76596, that remains a matter for the US.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2025 to Question 76596 and the Answer of 12 January 2023 to Question 119101 on Guantanamo Bay: Closures, on what date did her Department change its policy on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Hon Member will be aware that it has been the stated intention of the US administration since January 2025 to expand the facilities at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to serve as a large-scale migration detention centre. As stated in the answer to Question 76596, that remains a matter for the US.
Asked by: Robert Jenrick (Reform UK - Newark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish a list of all current legal proceedings, including civil claims and complaints to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, brought against her Department by current detainees at Guantanamo Bay; and what is the total estimated value of these claims including legal costs.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Rt Hon Member knows, it has been the UK's longstanding position under successive governments, including the one he supported for over a decade, not to comment on intelligence related litigation.
Asked by: Robert Jenrick (Reform UK - Newark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any settlement discussions have been initiated with representatives of Abu Faraj al-Libi, Mustafa al-Hawsawi, or Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Rt Hon Member knows, it has been the UK's longstanding position under successive governments, including the one he supported for over a decade, not to comment on intelligence related litigation.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with the US Government on closing the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
That is a matter for the US and the nations of those detained at the facility, which does not include the UK.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her policy is on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
That is a matter for the US and the nations of those detained at the facility, which does not include the UK.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his policy is on the refoulement of former Guantanamo Bay detainees from third countries.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We urge all States to ensure those in detention are treated in line with international human rights law. Discussions of non-British nationals in Guantanamo Bay are a matter for the US and the nations of those detained.