Iraq (Hansard, 20 May 2004)

§ Harry Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of whether the activities of(a) UK and (b) Coalition forces in Iraq fully comply with the Geneva conventions; and if he will make a statement. [171635]

§ Mr. Ingram
The provisions of the Geneva conventions underpin the missions and activities carried out by the United Kingdom and their Coalition partners in Iraq. Any credible suggestions that the UK forces have not observed the provisions of the conventions are investigated and appropriate action is taken.
1148W

§ Adam Price
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women(a) have been detained by the UK military since the occupation of Iraq began and (b) are being detained by the UK military in Iraq. [172699]

§ Mr. Hoon
Since the occupation of Iraq began, UK Armed Forces have interned one woman in Iraq who posed or was likely to pose a threat to Coalition Forces. As of 16 May 2004, no women were being detained by UK Armed Forces.

§ Adam Price
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place for(a) the Red Cross and (b) other aid agencies to visit Iraqi detainees held by United Kingdom military forces. [172904]

§ Mr. Hoon
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has unrestricted access to the UK detention facility in Shaibah. The ICRC are the recognised international authority for visiting and checking on conditions of detainees, internees, prisoners of war and any other persons held.

§ Mr. Redwood
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when ministers first read the International Committee of the Red Cross draft report on Iraqi prisoners delivered in February. [172995]

§ Mr. Hoon
Defence Ministers first read the International Committee of the Red Cross's (ICRC) report of the Treatment by the Coalition Forces of Prisoners of War and other Protected Persons by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq during Arrest, Internment and Interrogation, dated 10 February 2004, over the weekend of 8/9 May.

§ Tom Cox
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the age of the(a) youngest and (b) oldest Iraqi (i) man and (ii) woman being held in United Kingdom-run prisons in Iraq is. [173999]

§ Mr. Hoon
Of internees held by United Kingdom forces in Iraq, as at May 15, the oldest was 68 and the youngest 18 years old. There were no female internees.

§ Norman Lamb
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2004,Official Report, columns 1480–81W, on Iraq, what the total cost was of all surveys conducted over the last 12 months; what further surveys have been conducted since those disclosed to the hon. Member for North Norfolk subsequent to the answer; and if he will place copies of each in the Library. [174334]

§ Mr. Caplin
Information on the totality of quantitative and qualitative surveys carried out by the Ministry of Defence and its agencies and non-departmental public, bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, in the Financial Year 2003–04 the total cost of external corporate-level public opinion surveys undertaken by Ministry of Defence was £86,450.62 (including VAT). This includes expenditure on survey work carried out in late 2002–03 but not paid for until Financial Year 2003–04. This figure is provisional and subject to final audit.
No further surveys have been conducted subsequent to my answer of 31 March 2004, Official Report, columns 1480–81W