HC Deb 16 May 1991 vol 191 cc272-4W
Mr. O'Neill

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what information has been provided to the families of those service personnel who died as a result of attacks by USAF A-10 aircraft during Operation Granby;

(2) what plans he has to provide the families of those service personnel who died as a result of attacks by USAF A-10 aircraft during Operation Granby with further information on this incident; and if he will make a statement;

(3) what is his assessment of the cause of the attacks by USAF A-10 aircraft on British forces during Operation Granby; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

An initial report into the incident in which nine British soldiers were killed on 26 February by fire from United States A-10 aircraft has now been produced following the British military investigation. A formal board of inquiry was convened yesterday to consider this report, to obtain the further information required and to produce findings and conclusions.

We are in close touch with the United States authorities, who are giving all the help they can and have nominated a senior officer to provide a point of contact. The aim is to reach agreed conclusions as soon as possible.

As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 13 May Official Report, column 58, as full an account of the outcome of the inquiry as is possible will be given to the next-of-kin and to Parliament. Until then it would not be proper to comment on the details of the incident or the initial accounts which may have been given at the time by the commanding officer and other members of the regiments.