HL Deb 18 April 1991 vol 527 cc91-2WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whose decision it is that the extent of Iraqi casualties and of damage to Iraqi religious and cultural sites should not be established further to the Answer to Lord Kennet's Question H.L. WA 20th March and whether it it also their intention not to seek to establish the results of bombing nuclear research facilities, or biological and chemical warfare plants, or the fate of the enriched uranium that according to the IAEA was lawfully present in Iraq during IAEA's last inspection?

The Earl of Arran:

Her Majesty's Government have some information on the extent of damage to sites in Iraq from allied bombing, but are aware of no evidence that allied attacks have caused damage to Islamic holy places or sites of historical importance. Inspections of Iraq's nuclear, biological and chemical facilities to be carried out in accordance with Security Council Resolution 687, adopted on 3rd April, should provide an opportunity to determine the effects of the allied attacks.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is their intention not to seek to establish the degree of damage effected on non-military targets in Iraq by the bombing, which the UN Under-Secretary General is reported to have described as having "wrought near-apocalyptic results upon the economic infrastructure" of Iraq, the result of which he and his team forecast as "imminent catastrophe", including epidemics and famine; and whether they have agreed that energy supplies sufficient to prevent that catastrophe should now, under United Nations control, be released?

The Earl of Arran:

The United Nations Secretary General reported to the Security Council on 21st March on Under-Secretary General Ahtisaari's finding following his mission to Iraq. I understand that Under-Secretary General Ahtisaari also said that allied precision bombing had been "remarkably precise", and that "the scale of non-strategic destruction had been less than might have been anticipated, considering the reported scope of operations". Her Majesty's Government has agreed to the restoration of the supply of services and equipment essential for humanitarian purposes in Iraq, under United Nations control.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have reason to doubt the figures given by spokesmen of the United States Defense Department to the effect that 88,500 tons of bombs were dropped on Iraq and Kuwait in 43 days of war, that 70 per cent. of these bombs missed their targets, and that only 7 per cent. of the bombs dropped were "smart" bombs; and whether in giving their approval of General Schwarzkopf's strategy, they were fully aware of the level of destruction that was to be inflicted on non-military targets in Iraq; and whether, in the light of the Earl of Arran's words that "It is allied policy … to make every possible effort to minimise civilian casualties" (H.L. WA 27th February), they nevertheless approved it?

The Earl of Arran:

Her Majesty's Government are not in a position to confirm the tonnage of bombs dropped by coalition forces during the conflict, nor the percentage that achieved direct hits on targets. In accordance with international law, it was the policy of all the coalition countries during the conduct of military operations to make every effort to minimise civilian casualties. Precision-guided munitions were used when appropriate, and allied tactics were designed to minimise the risk of causing civilian casualties. Many attacks against Iraqi forces or facilities supporting the illegal occupation of Kuwait did not require the use of such munitions and carried little or no risk of causing civilian casualties.