The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Kenneth Clarke)
I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses copies of the UK’s fifth periodic report under the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. I intend to send the report to the United Nations Committee Against Torture immediately, with a request that the committee post the report on its website.
The report sets out how the UK is fulfilling its undertakings under the convention, and updates the UN on developments since the examination of the UK’s fourth report in November 2004. It draws attention to recent initiatives with regard to the treatment of people in detention: publication of guidance on the treatment of detainees, and establishment of the detainee inquiry. Non-governmental organisations and members of civil society in the UK have had the opportunity to comment on the report in draft, and the Government have taken into account many of their comments and suggestions.