Letter to the Head, Parliamentary Relations
and Devolution Team, Foreign and Commonwealth Office from the
Clerk of the Committee
At its meeting yesterday, the Committee considered
the Government's response to its Report on the Human Rights Annual
Report 2006. The Committee welcomes the positive and helpful overall
tone of the response. It has asked me to write seeking further
information on a number of points arising from the responses to
some of the conclusions and recommendations.
First, the response refers to the proposal to
produce "a more tightly focused Report" for 2007. The
Committee notes that the FCO will be consulting with "key
stakeholders", including the Committee, and seeks assurances
that the tighter focus will lead neither to a loss of detail nor
to a reduction in the breadth of coverage of the Report.
The Committee wishes to receive an update on
the latest position with respect to the proposed international
treaty on trade in conventional arms.
The Committee asked the Government to confirm
whether US aircraft used in rendition operations had called at
airfields in the UK or its Overseas Territories en route to or
from a rendition and that it make a clear policy statement on
this issue. The response does not comment on the point raised
by the Committee and instead restates known policy on the use
of airfields by aircraft involved in a rendition. Yesterday's
report by the Intelligence and Security Committee notes that "on
up to four occasions since 9/11, aircraft that had previously
conducted a rendition operation overseas transited UK airspace
during their return journeys (without detainees on board)."
This is very similar to the issue raised by the FAC.
The Government's published response to the ISC
is again silent on the issue. The Committee wishes to know whether
the Government was informed by the US authorities that on up to
four occasions since 11 September 2001, aircraft that had previously
conducted a rendition operation overseas transited UK airspace
during their return journeys, and if so, what response it gave.
The Committee welcomes the statement in the
response that it will be invited to a discussion on the UK-China
Human Rights Dialogue, and looks forward to receiving the invitation.
The Committee wishes to receive an update on
the Government's assessment of the human rights situation in Saudi
Arabia.
The Committee wishes to receive an update on
the Government's assessment of the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.
I hope you will be able to reply to this letter
not later than 3 October.
26 July 2007
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