To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2008, Official Report, column 1188W, on Diego Garcia: detainees, what steps he has taken in response to the allegations received by his Department concerning US ships; whether those allegations related to (a) the USS Bataan and (b) the USNS Stockholm; and what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on this matter. (201896)

Our officials continue to work with their US counterparts on the details and implications of the new information passed to us on 15 February regarding two cases of rendition through Diego Garcia in 2002. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, further to his statement to the House of 21 February, to request clarification on a number of specific issues.

I can confirm that we are aware of non-governmental organisations' allegations relating to the USS Bataan and the USNS Stockholm.