§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many road traffic(a) accidents and (b) deaths involving UK services personnel there have been in Iraq in each month since March; and how many military vehicles have been (i) written off and (ii) damaged in road accidents in Iraq since March. [R] [141059]
§ Mr. IngramThe following table provides the information requested.
Month Total RTAs involving UK forces in Iraq Total UK military fatalities as a result of an RTA in Iraq Total vehicles beyond economic repair after being involved in RTAs in Iraq March 81 0 3 April 77 0 2 May 57 1 1 June 65 0 2 July 101 0 0 August 75 0 3 September 53 0 3 October 54 0 0 November 23 1 0 The number of vehicles that have been damaged in Road Traffic Accidents, but are not beyond economic repair, is not held centrally and would be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims for compensation have been submitted by Iraqis in connection with fatalities allegedly involving British Forces since 1 May. [141688]
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§ Mr. IngramIraqis have submitted 23 claims for compensation in connection with alleged fatalities involving United Kingdom Forces since the 1 May 2003. Of these, seven have been repudiated, 13 are still under investigation, and three have received compensation payment.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much compensation has been paid by UK authorities in(a) Basra and (b) all of Iraq for injuries caused by UK forces; and if he will make a statement. [142177]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 9 December 2003]: Of the 73 claims submitted for compensation by Iraqi civilians claiming to have been injured by United Kingdom Forces since 1 May 2003, 15 have been rejected, 39 are still under investigation and 19 have received payment. Of the 19 successful claims, seven were paid to people in Basra (total £2,000) and 12 were paid in the rest of Iraq (total £4,625).
§ Mrs. LiddellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an update on United Kingdom operations in Iraq as part of Operation Telic. [143728]
§ Mr. IngramUnited Kingdom Forces continue to mount security operations in Iraq. Recent operations against smuggling, for example, have been a considerable success and were widely welcomed by the Iraqi people. Our forces are also closely engaged in developing Iraq's own security capabilities so that Iraqis can take greater responsibility for their own security. Already more than 10,500 Iraqi police are on patrol in the Multinational Division (South East), and more are being trained; other Iraqi security personnel are guarding vital infrastructure, facilities and coastline.
I refer my right hon. Friend to the statement to the House of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 1302, for the most recent announcement on troop deployments.
§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the level of deployment of(a) armoured Land Rovers, (b) Puma helicopters and (c) Gazelle helicopters to Iraq in relation to the number of British troops in the area. [144686]
§ Mr. IngramUnited Kingdom forces in Iraq currently operate 208 armoured Land Rovers. The helicopter fleet includes six Gazelles and six Pumas.
We keep equipment and force levels under constant review, but there are no immediate plans to significantly alter the Land Rover or helicopter fleets.
§ Mrs. LiddellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the UK(a) naval and (b) air components deployed in the Gulf. [143732]
§ Mr. IngramThere are two Royal Navy frigates deployed to the Gulf, currently HMS St. Albans and HMS Norfolk, and a supporting Royal Fleet Auxiliary, currently RFA Bayleaf.
The air assets deployed to the region are six Tornado GR4s, two VC10s, two Hercules C130Js, one HS125 and three Nimrod aircraft.