HC Deb 19 February 1991 vol 186 cc140-3
12. Mr. Riddick

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the latest situation in the Gulf.

15. Sir Philip Goodhart

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement about Operation Desert Storm.

16. Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the conflict in the Gulf.

Mr. Tom King

Allied pressure on the Iraqi military machine continues to grow. The main weight of the air campaign is now directed against Iraqi forces in and near Kuwait, and the Iraqi navy has been largely destroyed. Yesterday, British artillery was in action for the first time in a limited engagement. This is part of the preparations for the ground campaign which will be inevitable unless Saddam Hussein complies with UN Security Council resolutions.

Mr. Riddick

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a former Labour Cabinet Minister yesterday described reporters in Baghdad as "fifth columnists" not, perhaps, without some cause? Will my right hon. Friend communicate to the BBC and ITN the real sense of anger that is felt by many people in this country at what they see as Britain's reporters reporting back to this country from Baghdad only what Saddam Hussein wants them to report in his efforts to undermine the morale of the British people—efforts which will, of course, prove ineffective?

Mr. King

I very much agree with my hon. Friend's sentiments. It is extremely difficult for the correspondents in Baghdad to be able to begin to discharge their proper responsibilities when operating under the conditions which manifestly exist. One cannot draw a bigger contrast than to point to the way in which, over the weekend when it is possible that there may have been a most unfortunate and regrettable incident in which some civilians may have been killed, we made a point of putting before the public such facts as were available to us.

Sir Philip Goodhart

While saluting the skill and bravery of our service men and women in the Gulf, does my right hon. Friend recognise that it will take some time to evaluate the military lessons of Operation Desert Storm, which will inevitably mean that there will have to be a fundamental review of the paper "Options for Change"?

Mr. King

As my hon. Friend knows, I have made it clear that we wish to learn any lessons that can be learnt. The remarks of my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement on the subject of the next tank order will obviously take account of the lessons that can be learnt. We shall be keen to take full stock of the implications that flow from Operation Desert Storm.

Mr. Home Robertson

Given that there is still some outside hope of a diplomatic solution to the crisis, are there any contingency plans for supervising a peaceful withdrawal of the Iraqi forces from Kuwait, and how long would that take?

Mr. King

We do not yet know whether the Iraqis will withdraw. We have made it quite clear that we wish to see an immediate and unconditional withdrawal. Once we are satisfied that that is happening, arrangements about the way in which it is to be carried out will be a matter for urgent discussion.

Mr. Burns

Will my right hon. Friend accept that the conflict and peace in the middle east cannot be won simply by the acceptance of resolution 660? Does he agree that the other resolutions, up to and including resolution 678, must be implemented and that Iraq's chemical and nuclear capability must be removed?

Mr. King

We have always stood by the United Nations resolutions. As my hon. Friend says, that means more than resolution 660.

Ms. Short

Will the Secretary of State explain how it helps to get Iraq out of Kuwait to bombard Baghdad more heavily than it has ever been bombarded before, as we have been told in the press that the allies did last night? Is not it a breach of the Geneva convention to deprive civilians of water, food, electricity and proper medical treatment and to destroy their sewage system, so causing disease in the centre of Baghdad?

Mr. King

The attacks conducted as part of the air campaign are specifically directed at strategic or military targets, as the House knows. In Baghdad, there are control centres and communication centres which directly control and order the people in Kuwait. Those centres are certainly legitimate targets.

Representing the constituents she does, the hon. Lady should think hard before she starts talking about the Geneva convention. She knows perfectly well that there are families of service men who do not yet know whether their sons or husbands are alive or dead. Those service men have been shown on television and we do not yet know their fate. We have not had a single word from the Iraqi authorities to fulfil the most elementary obligation under the Geneva convention. I do not know how the hon. Lady can stand up and berate us about the Geneva convention without addressing that aspect.

Mr. O'Neill

Will the Secretary of State assure the House that there will be no reduction in military pressure until Saddam Hussein clarifies last Friday's announcements from Baghdad and starts to make arrangements to withdraw from Kuwait?

Mr. King

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made the position clear. I make it clear that until and unless Iraq immediately and unconditionally withdraws from Kuwait, hostilities will continue as planned.

Mr. Hayes

While fully appreciating the difficulties experienced by journalists in Baghdad in reporting the situation out there, does my right hon. Friend agree that the report on the "Today" programme from a BBC journalist who talked about the allied forces perpetrating five hours of bombing was disgraceful? According to the Oxford English dictionary the definition of "perpetrate" is to commit a crime, a blunder or something outrageous. Does my right hon. Friend agree that that report was nothing short of disgraceful and that such reporting does nothing to help the morale of our people here or in the Gulf?

Mr. King

On the last point, I would not be so despondent about the morale of our people here. In spite of reservations that we may have about the way in which some of these matters have been reported, we can recognise with admiration the steadily increasing support shown in the polls and right across the country for our forces in the Gulf, the dangerous work which they are undertaking and the difficulties that they face. We, for our part, will tell the truth about the circumstances in which we are involved in the conflict, even if mistakes are made or things go wrong. Broadcasting authorities and correspondents have a heavy responsibility to make sure that at all times they give the fairest possible representation of the true facts.