Questions
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to offer financial and other assistance to Mr Binyam Mohamed to help his recovery from incarceration in the United States. [HL1671]
Binyam Mohamed is currently in the UK on temporary admission while his immigration status is being considered. Whilst on temporary admission Mr Mohamed is entitled to the same financial and healthcare services as anyone entering the United Kingdom on that basis.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk Mr Binyam Mohamed poses to national security in the United Kingdom. [HL1747]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have been provided with the recent assessment by the Government of the United States of the security risk posed by Mr Binyam Mohamed; and, if so, whether they took it into account in their assessment of the risk Mr Binyam Mohamed would pose to national security when returned to the United Kingdom. [HL1748]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they (a) have taken, and (b) will take, to ensure the safety and security of the public following the return of Mr Binyam Mohamed to the United Kingdom. [HL1749]
The decision to request the release and return of Mr Mohamed was taken in light of work by the US Government to reduce the number of those detained at Guantanamo with the aim of closing the facility and our wish to offer practical and concrete support to those efforts. I cannot comment on individual cases but, as my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made clear in his public statement of the 23 of February: “In reaching this decision we have paid full consideration to the need to maintain national security and the Government's overriding responsibilities in this regard”.
Asked by
To ask Her Majesty's Government what conditions were attached to Mr Binyam Mohamed's permission to (a) return to, and (b) stay in, the United Kingdom. [HL1750]
We do not discuss the immigration status of individuals. However, as with any foreign national, consideration will be given as to whether their presence in the United Kingdom is conducive to the public good and, as always, all appropriate steps will be taken to protect national security.