§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Iraqi prisoners taken during Operation Desert Storm had been issued with uniforms, webbing, disruptive patterned material and other battledress and related equipment that was of the green/black camouflage variety for theatres of war in northern Europe.
§ Mr. HanleyThere is no record of Iraqi prisoners wearing uniforms or having been issued with associated equipment of the sort used by the United Kingdom or other NATO armed forces. It is, however, possible that United Kingdom or NATO clothing may have been provided to those Iraqi prisoners who at the time of capture were found to be inadequately clothed.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the United Kingdom's armed forces personnel who went to the Gulf to fight, or were in support, during Operation Desert Storm, had been issued by the time of their arrival in the Gulf with uniforms, webbing, disruptive patterned material and other battledress and related equipment, of the desert camouflage variety.
§ Mr. HanleyOnly a very small proportion of the armed forces personnel who went to the Gulf were issued with desert uniforms prior to deployment. The majority were issued initially with either temperate or tropical clothing and provided with desert clothing in theatre once this was available.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many prisoners taken during Operation Desert Storm were found to be wearing uniforms, webbing, disruptive patterned material and other battledress and related equipment, manufactured or used by(a) the United Kingdom's armed forces and (b) other NATO forces.
§ Mr. HanleyThere is no record of Iraqi prisoners being found to be wearing uniforms, or having been issued with associated equipment, of the sort used by the United Kingdom or other NATO armed forces.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what volume of uniforms, webbing, disruptive patterned material and other battledress and related equipment was declared surplus to requirements and disposed of to the Government of Iraq in the 10 years prior to Operation Desert Storm(a) comprising of a camouflage style appropriate for use in northern Europe and (b) comprising of a camouflage style appropriate for use in the tropics or desert theatres of war.
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§ Mr. AitkenMy Department sold surplus combat clothing, No. 2 dress and combat kit, boots, DMS and webbing equipment to Iraq during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The equipment and materiel were surplus to service requirements and at the time there were no sales restrictions placed on the customer countries.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what volume of new uniforms, webbing, disruptive patterned material and other battledress and related equipment designed for use in desert theatres of war was ordered following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq; and at what cost.
§ Mr. AitkenThe cost of new uniforms and related equipment ordered following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and designed for use in desert theatres of war was £39,401,000. A breakdown of the items is shown in the table.
Item Quantity Jacket, Desert Combat 425,227 Trousers, Desert Combat 432,242 Hat, Desert Combat 97,878 Cover, Helmet Desert 58,125 Sweat Rags 854,452 Vest, Combat 407,041 Underpants, cotton 478,267 Headnet, Insect 44,333 Sunglasses/Cases 145,187 Goggles 79,887 Shoulder Mark, Desert 4,330 prs Badges Rank, Desert 51,350 Combat Body Armour, Filler 50,744 Combat Body Armour, Cover 146,731 Chagel (Water Bag) 87,040 Water Bottles/Lids 88,044 Boots, Desert Combat 102,170 Boots, Chukka 65,989 Coveralls, Armoured Fighting Vehicle Crewman 7,700 Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) Suits 66,718 NBC Bandage Covers 55,000 Washnet, Soiled Linen 144,448 Socks, Lightweight 80,000 Face Veil, Desert 119,488 Jackets, Tropical 23,400 Trousers, Tropical 27,000