HC Deb 22 July 2004 vol 424 c528W
Tom Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many(a) male and (b) female prison officers are employed in the running of British military and civilian prisons in Iraq; how many have been prison officers employed in prisons in the UK; and if he will make a statement; [177244]

(2) how many (a) men and (b) women prison officers employed in British-run military/civilian prisons in Iraq have been removed from their role as prison officers because of concern as to their suitability to be a prison officer; and if he will make a statement. [184119]

Mr. Ingram

There are no British military or civilian prisons in Iraq, and no prison officers are employed. As at 21 July 2004, around 65 personnel are based at the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility (DTDF) at Shaibah. This is the only British detention facility in Iraq. All custody officers are currently male, although one female custody officer was employed previously. None is known to have been removed from duty.