§ 22. David TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to change the(a) number and (b) composition of British troops serving in southern Iraq; and how regularly this is reviewed. [173170]
§ Mr. HoonWe keep under continuous close review the level of forces we require in Iraq. We are currently considering, with other partners, the levels and dispositions of forces in the context of the forthcoming crucial period from the handover of authority to the Iraqi Interim Government on 30 June, through to the election of the Transitional Assembly and Government around the turn of the year.
§ Claire WardTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of investigations into allegations of abuse by the military in Iraq. [173169]
§ Mr. HoonInvestigations by the Royal Military Police Special Investigations Branch into allegations of abuse continue and as I have already informed the House, I cannot put a precise timeframe on how long these might take. As I said, in my statement last week, it is essential that the integrity of the criminal justice process be maintained. This can involve detailed and lengthy processes, but these are crucial to allow the necessary impartial evaluation of the evidence. As I said last week, two cases have reached an advanced stage with decisions on prosecution pending.
663W
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the legal immunity granted to coalition forces in Iraq from prosecution under local law will continue after the handover of power to the Iraq Governing Council. [162665]
§ Mr. IngramFollowing the hand over of authority to the Iraqi Interim Government on 30 June 2004, currently we expect that coalition forces will continue to be granted immunity from prosecution under local law by virtue of an amended Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17. However, they will be subject to the jurisdiction of their home state.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of UK forces in protecting(a) tankers at ports and (b) oil terminals in Iraq. [171419]
§ Mr. IngramCurrently coalition forces, including those from the United Kingdom, are working closely with the Iraqis to provide effective protection of both ports and offshore installations within Iraqi territorial waters.
§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for families of Iraqis detained by British forces to(a) have access to information about the detention and (b) visit those detained; and if he will make a statement. [172304]
§ Mr. IngramFollowing the detention of a suspect the individual is taken to the Divisional Temporary Detention Facility. Upon arrival at the detention facility the suspect is provided with a form setting out the reasons for their detention (this has been approved by the International Commission of the Red Cross) and is asked to provide details of a person who he wishes to notify of the detention. The military then inform the person nominated. Internees are entitled to three visits per week by members of their family.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the Iraqi individuals whose treatment by UK armed forces personnel has been the subject of a Special Investigation Branch inquiry, broken down by individuals for whom(a) investigations are ongoing, (b) the finding is that there is no case to answer and (c) a report has been submitted to the Army Prosecuting Authority. [172346]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 11 May 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 January, Official Report, column 917–18W. In addition the death of Tanik S Mahmud in April 2003 is the subject of an ongoing RAF Police investigation and the deaths of Mr. Zaher in March 2003 and Ghanim Gala'e Hacham Daghir Roomi in January 2004 are the subject of ongoing Royal Military Police investigations. However, it would be inappropriate to disclose the names of living individuals whose alleged treatment has been the subject of a Service Police investigation.
Of the 33 cases I referred to in the statement I made to the House on 4 May 2004, offical Report, column 1213, 16 involve alleged ill treatment by members of the UK Armed Forces. Of these, eight are subject to ongoing Service Police investigations, four have been discontinued for lack of evidence and two have been referred to the Army Prosecuting Authority 664W for consideration. In the remaining two cases the police investigation has concluded and legal advice is being sought in relation to what further action might be necessary.
§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of the investigation into the deaths of the six Royal Military Police soldiers killed in Iraq on 24 June 2003; whether Her Majesty's Government received a response to it from the families of the men; whether he plans to make public the relevant communications log; and if he will make a statement. [173319]
§ Mr. IngramI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 February 2004,Official Report, column 1637W. Although extensive inquiries have been undertaken, the investigation is still ongoing and it remains unclear when it will conclude.