Lord Judd's Caribbean concerns

The House of Lords questions the justice on offer at Guantanamo Bay

Guantanamo Bay came to the House of Lords as the rest of Westminster wound down for the summer recess.

Lord Judd asked the foreign office about the two British prisoners due to face military trial in the US naval base in Cuba.

His question came on the day - 17 July - Prime Minister Tony Blair met President George Bush in Washington to discuss, amongst other things, the treatment of UK citizens held at Camp Delta.

The Labour backbencher wanted to know about the "representations" to the US Government about the "unlawful combatants" held in Cuba - numbering some 680 - suspected of membership of al-Qaeda and the Taleban.

It is the whole matter of human rights and the international rule of law Lord Judd

Speaking for the British Government Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean replied: "These representations cover a range of issues, including the need for any trials to be fair and in accordance with international law, as well as the possible return of the detainees to the United Kingdom."

Parliamentary progress

A group of 256 MPs signed a motion in the House of Commons on 7 July to call for the repatriation of the British men - Feroz Abbasi and Moazzam - to ensure a fair trial.

Lord Judd told the House of Lords: "But important as the detained British subjects obviously are...the issue is much greater than them."

"It is the whole matter of human rights and the international rule of law. The whole purpose of the stand against global terrorism is to preserve human rights and the international rule of law," he continued.

Baroness Symons assured the House the prime minister would focus on the treatment of the British men and recognised the importance of following international law and holding fair trials.

The Lords' Tory spokesperson Lord Howell of Guildford said: "It probably does not make much legal sense to think of repatriating these two accused, but that makes it all the more important to insist on due process, of proper trial proceedings, proper representation and clear charges."

BBC Parliament will broadcast Lords Questions throughout the summer recess.