HC Deb 26 February 1991 vol 186 cc469-70W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contact the Red Cross has had with Iraqi personnel held as prisoners of war in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Saudi Arabia.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The International Committee of the Red Cross has full access to Iraqi prisoners of war for whom the United Kingdom is responsible. It has visited all those held in the United Kingdom and will visit those recently captured in the Gulf in due course. We understand that the committee has also had access to prisoners of war for whom the United States and Saudi Arabia are responsible, as required by the third Geneva convention.

Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response the Red Cross has had from the Iraqi authorities regarding captured British service personnel.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

We understand that the International Committee of the Red Cross has made repeated approaches to the Iraqi authorities regarding captured allied prisoners of war, but that Iraq has so far failed to meet its obligations under the third Geneva convention to provide personal details and access. The British Government continue to pursue the matter as being of the gravest concern.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of(a) RAF, (b) Army and (c) Royal Navy personnel serving in the Gulf area on 1 August, 1 September, 1 October, 1 November and 1 December 1990, 1 January and 1 February; what is the current total cost beyond normal estimated spending; and if he will make a statement on his current estimate of the likely total personal and financial commitment.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

For reasons of operational security it has been our practice not to break down manpower figures between the three services. The approximate total numbers of British forces personnel committed to Operation Granby for the dates requested are:

Number
1 September 1990 5,000
1 October 1990 15,000
1 November 1990 16,000
1 December 1990 30,000
1 January 1991 35,000
1 February 1991 40,000

About 1,000 British service personnel were in the Gulf area on 1 August, including the Armilla patrol and military training personnel and advisors. We have no plans at present for further major developments of personnel.

The current additional cost of the United Kingdom's deployment is more than £1.5 billion. The final financial commitment will depend on a number of factors, not least of which is the duration of the conflict, but we could incur very considerable costs in the consumption of weapons and ammunition, raising the total bill, assuming replacement over several years, to the area of £3 billion.

Ms. Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether benzodiazepines are being prescribed to pilots in the Gulf between missions to help them sleep.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

Temazepam, a type of benzodiazepine, is being prescribed in low doses under very strict medical control to assist RAF pilots to sleep on return from sorties in the Gulf.

Mr. John Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will provide alternative means to the blue aerogrammes for families and friends to communicate with troops in the Gulf.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

I have no plans to provide alternative means to the blue aerogramme for families and friends to communicate with troops in the Gulf.

The 'bluey' is well recognised by both civil and military postal staff and attracts first-class priority handling. There have been reported shortages of the aerogramme in some civil post offices, but this should not recur. Regular, substantial supplies are being delivered to the post office supplies division at Swindon and post offices should face no problems in replenishing their stocks.