§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Prime Minister when he first received a request from the US administration for military assistance in a war against Iraq. [120447]
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence gave in the House on 25 November 2002,Official Report, column 126.
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§ Llew SmithTo ask the Prime Minister whether apprehended former Iraqi Government(a) ministers and (b) officials are being held (i) under British custody and (ii) by the United States at Guantanamo Bay. [120797]
§ The Prime MinisterIraqi prisoners of war are being held in Iraq under the custody of the Coalition. All prisoners of war are being treated in accordance with international law.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Prime Minister who the members are of the newly formed Iraq Survey Group; what the relevant experience is of each member; to whom the group will be responsible; and whether honourable Members will have the opportunity to examine the reports produced by the survey group. [120796]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Iraq Survey Group (ISG) is a joint US, UK and Australian operation comprising around 1,400 people. The ISG is commanded by Major General Keith Dayton (US), with Brigadier John Deverell (UK) as his deputy. The Group's first priority is the search for, and elimination, of Weapons of Mass Destruction, but, in addition, will collect information relating to terrorism, war crimes, prisoners of war and other material relating to suspect activities of the former regime.
The Group is able to draw on personnel from a range of UK, US and Australian military and civilian organisations, and will include former UNSCOM inspectors.
As I have already made clear we are going to assemble evidence of Iraq's WMD and present it properly to people at the appropriate time.