Vol. 577 No. 1
60 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay; the number proposed for release; the conditions of those detained; and the date of the most recent access by such international institutions as the Red Cross. [30466/03]
I have on several occasions made known the Government's concerns regarding the treatment and status of the approximately 660 detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, both in this House and elsewhere. Those concerns are shared by our partners in the EU. The Government, thus far, has received no information to confirm media reports indicating several possible prisoner releases from Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo Bay.
Together with our EU partners, we are committed to working with the United States in the fight against international terrorism. However, when confronting those who abuse human rights it is important that the provisions of international human rights and humanitarian law be upheld at all times. In that context, the Government welcomes and supports regular visits by international organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross to Camp X-Ray. It has regularly visited Guantanamo Bay prisoners since January 2002 and last met detainees in October 2003.
