Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations, if any, they have made to the government of the United States about (1) the sentencing, age and state of health of Krishna Maharaj, and (2) the detention of Saifullah Paracha, who is reportedly in poor health, in Guantanamo Bay without charge or trial.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Her Majesty’s Government has made numerous representations to the United States government over a number of years about Mr Maharaj’s case, most recently when our Ambassador, Sir Kim Darroch wrote to the Attorney General of the United States, Jeff Sessions, on 13 February 2018.
The UK's long-standing position remains that the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay should close. We continue to engage with the US government on this issue, as we do on a range of national security issues.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 9 October (HL9860 and HL9890) and the Minister of State for the Home Office on 10 October (167956), whether either of the two individuals cited were transferred to the Guantanamo Bay prison facility.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government’s position remains that the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay should close.
In respect of the two requests for mutual legal assistance, it would not be appropriate to share information as it may harm on-going criminal investigations or future prosecutions.
The purpose of mutual legal assistance is to assist law enforcement agencies at home and abroad with criminal investigations and the prosecution of criminal offences. It is an essential tool for cutting crime and preventing terrorism.
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of the United States and the Syrian Defence Forces about whether prisoners held by the Syrian Defence Forces in eastern Syria will be moved to Guantanamo Bay.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK's long-standing position remains that the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay should close. We continue to engage with the US Government on this issue, as we do on a range of national security issues.
Asked by: Lord Hylton (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make representations to the government of the United States calling for the release or charging of the remaining 41 detainees held at Guantanamo Bay.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Government’s long-standing position is that the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay should close. We continue to engage with the US Government on this issue, as we do on a range of national security issues and in the context of our joint determination to tackle international terrorism and combat violent extremism.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will give the most recent date on which he discussed (a) Guantanamo Bay and (b) the tube feeding of hunger strikers held at Guantanamo Bay with his US counterpart.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The US Government is well aware of our long-standing view on the closure of the Guantanamo detention facility. Senior Government officials continue to take opportunities to underline this position to the US Administration, but the Foreign Secretary has not personally raised it.
The Foreign Office recently received confirmation from the US Government that the practice of medically monitoring hunger striking detainees in Guantanamo Bay has not changed. The US Government stated that close attention is paid to the condition of prisoner health, particularly if there are signs of serious deterioration. On 17 October, a Pentagon Spokesperson said that the practice of permitting the involuntary feeding of hunger-striking detainees in Guantanamo Bay will continue, if US medical officials decide that artificial feeding is required to prevent death or serious self-harm.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Foreign Secretary meets representatives of Guantanamo detainee, of 1 March 2012, whether it is the Government's policy that indefinite detention in Guantanamo Bay is wrong; and that the UK will continue to call for Guantanamo Bay to be closed.
Answered by Alan Duncan
Her Majesty's Government (HMG) has stated repeatedly our long held view that indefinite detention without review or fair trial is unacceptable and this remains our position. HMG has long supported the closure of the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. We have made this clear to successive US Administrations, including to the Trump Administration, and we will continue to do so.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US on the UK's support for the closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The US Government is well aware of our long-standing position that the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay should close. Her Majesty's Government has made this clear to successive US Administrations, including to the Trump Administration, and we will continue to do so.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his counterpart in the US to reconsider the alleged practice of officials not medically monitoring hunger striking in Guantanamo Bay detainees.
Answered by Alan Duncan
It is the Government's understanding that US practice on medically monitoring hunger striking detainees in Guantanamo Bay has not changed. Detainees continue to be monitored carefully on medical grounds. On 17 October, a Pentagon Spokesperson said that the practice of permitting the involuntary feeding of hunger-striking detainees in Guantanamo Bay will continue, if US medical officials decide that artificial feeding is required to prevent death or serious self-harm.
The Government believes that mentally competent adults are entitled to take decisions to hunger strike.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many British citizens have received compensation following a period of detention at Guantanamo Bay; and how much has been paid out in total.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
In November 2010, the Government secured a mediated without prejudice settlement of the civil damages claims brought by detainees held at Guantanamo Bay (Official Report col. 752).
The details of that settlement were made subject to a legally binding confidentiality agreement. We are therefore unable to confirm the terms of that settlement agreement, including the number of individuals involved, their nationalities, or the level of payments made.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2017 to Question 58526, whether the Government has received a request from the US administration to allow Ravil Mingazov, who is detained in Guantanamo, to be reunited with his family in the UK.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Government received a request from the US Government to allow the transfer of Ravil Mingazov from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the UK. After careful consideration, the Government declined this request. Mr Mingazov was transferred to the United Arab Emirates on 19 January 2017.