§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role was played by the(a) SAS and (b) SBS in restoring stability to Fallujah. [175048]
§ Mr. IngramI am withholding details under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 17 May 2004,Official Report, column 663W, on Iraq, if he will give the cause of death entered on the death certificates of the 16 individuals whose deaths involved alleged ill treatment by members of UK armed forces. [175750]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 25 May 2004]: Of the 16 cases involving alleged ill treatment of Iraqi civilians by United Kingdom armed forces, 10 resulted in the death of a civilian. As the cases are still under investigation, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the discovery of a shell filled with sarin nerve agent in Iraq by United States forces. [175200]
§ Mr. IngramOn 15 May 2004, an improvised explosive device, discovered by United States forces, was found to be an artillery shell probably containing the nerve agent sarin. Two members of US forces suffered symptoms consistent with nerve agent poisoning and initial tests revealed the presence of sarin. Additional testing will now be performed outside Iraq.
1694WIt is not clear whether the maker of the device knew that it contained nerve agent or whether the shell was being used for its explosive properties.