Belhaj and Boudchar: Litigation Update

Debate between Lord West of Spithead and Lord Keen of Elie

Thursday 10th May 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

Clearly, I am not in a position to determine the timing of the ISC report, but my understanding is—and the expectation is—that it will be published later this year.

[Lord West of Spithead (Lab)]

My Lords, I welcome this Statement: it is very clear in drawing a line under matters. Things have changed since these events happened. I was the Security Minister at the time and when I asked the question about rendition, I was told, as a Minister in the Government, that it was not going on. Does the Minister feel that this could not possibly happen again now because of the changes that have been put in place by a number of noble Lords, when they were in the other place, and by the committees that are in place or does he think that such a thing could happen again, where a tiny cabal of people is able to do something and there is no way of breaking this out?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

My Lords, I am confident that we have put in place such measures as will ensure that there will be no repetition of this.