PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Intelligence Services: Detainees (4 October 2024)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure compliance by personnel with the Government's Principles relating to the detention and interviewing of detainees overseas and the passing and receipt of intelligence relating to detainees, published in July 2019, in the context of intelligence received from Israeli sources.

Asked by:
Imran Hussain (Independent)

The Principles relating to the detention and interviewing of detainees oversees, which replaced the Cabinet Office Consolidated Guidance, apply to and must be followed by members of the Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence employees. The Principles apply to all nations.

As part of pre-deployment procedures, Defence personnel receive theatre specific training, which includes guidance and training on The Principles for personnel who may need to apply it in their work.

If Defence personnel receive intelligence from a foreign authority that has originated from a detainee and there is a risk the detainee has been or will be subject to human rights violations, then a formal assessment of the situation is undertaken and if the concerns remain valid, Defence Ministers will consider a full range of appropriate actions.

Answered by:
Luke Pollard (Labour)
14 October 2024