§ Norman LambTo ask the Prime Minister what(a) opinion polling and (b) market research projects have been carried out by the Government on the issue of military action against Iraq since 2001, broken down by financial year; what the (i) title and (ii) nature of these projects were; how much each of these projects cost; what the findings of each project were; where the findings have been published; and if he will make a statement.[153466]
§ Mr. CaplinI have been asked to reply.
No opinion polling or market research projects have been centrally commissioned by the Ministry of Defence specifically on the issue of military action against Iraq.
424WHowever, we commission surveys of public perceptions of the Ministry of Defence, the armed forces and their equipment. As part of this work we monitor the impact of recent operations.
I am withholding information on the costs of these surveys under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (commercial confidences).
§ Norman LambTo ask the Prime Minister (1) what assessment he has made of whether Iraq could launch a chemical, biological or nuclear attack against the UK mainland before publication of the September 2002 dossier; and if he will make a statement; [155975]
(2) what assessment he has made of whether Iraq had considered using chemical or biological agents in terrorist attacks before military action was taken against Iraq; and if he will make a statement; [155976]
(3) what assessment he made before military action was taken against Iraq, of Iraq's ability to produce chemical and biological weapons while the UN inspection team was in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [155977]
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Worthing West (Mr. Bottomley) in my statement on 24 September 2002,Official Report, column 23 and to my hon. Friend, the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), at Prime Minister's Questions on 4 June 2003, Official Report, columns 155–156 and in a written answer on 15 October 2003, Official Report, column 234W.
§ Norman LambTo ask the Prime Minister (1) what assessment he made of whether Iraq(a) had provided chemical and biological weapons to al-Qaeda and (b) intended to conduct chemical and biological terrorist attacks before military action was taken against Iraq; and if he will make a statement; [156006]
(2) what assessment he made of the effect of regime collapse in Iraq on the risk of transfer of chemical and biological weapons materials to terrorists; and if he will make a statement; [156007]
(3) what assessment he made of the effect of military action against Iraq on the threat posed by al-Qaeda before taking such action; and if he will make a statement. [156008]
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), on 15 October 2003,Official Report, column 234W.