§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what contacts(a) Defence Ministers and (b) departmental staff had with the Deputy Political Editor of The Sun in the seven days prior to 6 May; [172580]
(2) whether his Department authorised (a) Ministers and (b) spokesmen to disclose to (i) The Times, (ii) The Sun and (iii) other media that an announcement is shortly to be made concerning deployment to Iraq of Royal Marines; [172582]
(3) if he will investigate the (a) ministerial and (b) departmental origins of stories in (i) The Times and (ii) The Sun on 6 May claiming to confirm a forthcoming announcement that Royal Marines are to be deployed to Iraq. [172583]
§ Mr. HoonAll contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service. No decisions have been taken on the deployment of additional troops to Iraq. Should a decision be taken to commit additional forces to Iraq, I shall inform the House in the usual way.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on service morale of imminent deployment plans to conflict zones being published in the Press. [172581]
§ Mr. HoonWhen decisions are taken on operational deployments units are informed in the proper manner, through the chain of command. Recent press comment has focused on speculation concerning the Royal Marines. Morale in the Royal Marines remains very good. The Royal Marines continue, as is usual, to focus on their professional preparations for a full range of training and operations. Media speculation does however, have a considerable impact on the morale of young Service families, particularly, as happened on this occasion, when wives and children are accosted by journalists outside schools.