Gatwick Airport used at least once by the USA for "Extraordinary Rendition" flights

1.22.54pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 8th Mar 2006

Prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay

The Ministry of Defence has admitted that Gatwick Airport was one of the airports used by the USA for an "Extraordinary Rendition" flights - taking US prisoners to Foreign countries where they do not receive the protection of USA and UK law. Records indicate that this happened at least once - on 17 October 2003. The information was revealed in a reply to a series of questions asked by Sir Menzies Campbell MP regarding the use of British Military airfields by American aircraft that are suspected of involvement in extraordinary rendition.

The information was provided after last week the Liberal Democrats threatened to take the matter to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. The letter provides the first official evidence that the aircraft which landed at UK airports had origins and destinations including Tripoli, Islamabad, Doha, Malta, Marrakech and Washington.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Michael Moore MP said "Bit by bit the jigsaw becomes clearer. But it would be a lot easier if the Government would simply ask the US Administration some straightforward questions. "How many individuals have been subject to rendition by the USA via the UK since 1998?"

Michael went on to say "Apart from Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan and Iraq, how many other detention centres are operated by the USA or on its behalf, and how many people are at them? "What assurances can be given that the interrogation techniques used do not amount to 'cruel, inhuman or degrading' treatment, which is illegal under international law?"

USA President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair at a NATO summit meeting

"After months of uncertainty, we now need clear answers."

The full text of letter from Adam Ingram MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces to Sir Menzies Campbell MP:

Dear Ming,

In December, you asked a number of Parliamentary Questions about the use of UK military airfields by US registered aircraft (Official Record, 8 December, Column 1494W and Official Record, 14 December, column 2043W). In part, these questions related to the use of military airfields by specific aircraft over the last 5 years. I was unable to provide a substantive reply, other than at disproportionate cost, as the information you requested is not held centrally, if at all.

However, in researching an answer to a much more specific question, officials have identified some of the information you requested. The three main RAF Air Transport Stations- RAF Northolt, RAF Brize Norton and RAF Lyneham - hold some information on all of the flights they handled by aircraft listed in your questions. Many other airfields, who receive smaller numbers of civil flights, do not maintain records electronically, in such detail or for as long. A trawl of such records as these other airfields hold could still only be undertaken at disproportionate cost.

I am, therefore, able to enclose details of all flights to and from RAF Northolt, RAF Brize Norton and RAF Lyneham, by the aircraft listed in your Parliamentary Questions. I should add that none of this information is at odds with the Foreign Secretary's statements on the subject.

I am copying this letter to Nick Clegg MP as a response to his letter to me of 21 February and placing a copy in the House.

Yours

The Rt Hon Adam Ingram MP

FLIGHT INFORMATION FOR RAF NORTHOLT, RAF BRIZE NORTON AND RAF LYNEHAM

RAF NORTHOLT

N313P

19 Oct 03 Arrived from Brize Norton at 10:15

19 Oct 03 Departed to Tripoli at 13:00

22 Oct 03 Arrived from Tripoli at 15:35

28 Oct 03 Departed to Tripoli at 12:00

29 Oct 03 Arrived from Tripoli 17:10

29 Oct 03 Departed to Shannon 17:45

01 Dec 03 Arrived from Washington DC/Dulles 08.50

01 Dec 03 Departed to Tripoli 11:00

03 Dec 03 Arrived from Tripoli 13:00

06 Dec 03 Departed to Luqa/Malta 12:00

N379P

18 Oct 02 Arrived from Islamabad 15:50

20 Oct 02 Departed to Washington DC/Dulles 09:00

16 Jan 03 Arrived from Amman 12:50

18 Jan 03 Departed to Shannon 10:00

24 Feb 03 Arrived from Washington DC/Dulles 20:05

26 Feb 03 Departed to Doha 09:00

28 Feb 03 Arrived from Doha 12:49

01 Mar 03 Departed to Glasgow 09:00

N8068V

15 May 04 Arrived from Marrakech 12:10

15 May 04 Departed to Luton 13:00

17 May 04 Arrived from Luton 11:05

18 May 04 Departed to Shannon 08:00

RAF BRIZE NORTON

N313P

17 Oct 03 Arrived from Gatwick 17:30

19 Oct 03 Departed to RAF Northolt 10:00

12 Dec 03 Arrived from Washington 09:00

12 Dec 03 Departed to Tripoli 10:30

N379P

20 Nov 03 Arrived from Washington 07:37

Departure Uncertain

RAF LYNEHAM

Check carried out from Jan 2001 to present date. No record of any of the named aircraft landing at the Station.