§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq has access to hospital records detailing Iraqi civilian deaths and injuries and their causes during the occupation of Iraq. [HL2867]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)Coalition Provisional Authority advisers to the Iraqi Ministry of Health (MoH) do have access to some figures on civilian deaths. However these statistics are not reliable, as Iraqis often bury their deceased relatives without official notification/registration. This has been particularly true during periods of heightened conflict. The MoH does not therefore have accurate figures for civilian deaths or their causes for the past year. The MoH is gradually re-establishing standard practices and procedures, although these are basic. In the longer term the Iraqi Interim Government may be able to evaluate the causes of civilian deaths and injuries.