Eurocontrol UK flight plan data as released to the Council of Europe
Subject: Eurocontrol UK Flight Plan Data as released to the Council of Europe
Published: 7 April 2006
Eurocontrol UK Flight Plan Data as released to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe - explanatory note
Following Karen Buck's parliamentary answer of Thursday 6 March 2006 concerning the movement of certain US aircraft within the United Kingdom since 1 January 2001 (Hansard, Column 1084W), Ministers received a supplementary request for disclosure of the flight plan data provided by Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in connection with its enquiry into rendition.
The flight plan data attached to this document has been received from Eurocontrol, in connection with the movement of these particular aircraft within the UK over the given reference period. The data is limited to information about the respective aircraft's type, registration number, date and time of flight, point of origin and destination and recorded user's name. It does not contain information about any passengers on board the aircraft or the purpose of the flight.
The data about a number of the aircraft on the attached table was set out in the Secretary of State's parliamentary answer of 17 March (Hansard, Column 2508W). However the Secretary of State has decided to release all of the UK data supplied by Eurocontrol to the Council of Europe.
None of the information held by the Department provides evidence that these flights were involved in rendition. The British Government is not aware of any cases of rendition through the UK since May 1997, apart from the two cases in 1998 about which the Foreign Secretary has informed Parliament. Since before 11 September 2001, we have worked closely with the US to achieve our shared goal of fighting terrorism. As part of that close co-operation, we have made clear to the US authorities, including in recent months:
- that we expect them to seek permission to render detainees via UK territory and airspace (including Overseas Territories);
- that we will grant permission only if we are satisfied that the rendition would accord with UK law and our international obligations, and
- how we understand our obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture.
Document released:
Eurocontrol UK Flight Data (28 kb)
Data published by Eurocontrol.
- Published:
- 07 April 2006
