Iraq (Hansard, 19 December 2003)

§ Mrs. Liddell
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the composition of United Kingdom land forces in Iraq. [143727]

§ Mr. Ingram
I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 20 November 2003,Official Report, column 1253W, to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames). In addition, the 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders will deploy to Iraq in January 2004, along with additional RMP elements.

§ Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what access is being given to Iraqi(a) civilians and (b) former military personnel to the type of biological monitoring for depleted uranium contamination that is afforded to United Kingdom personnel who served in Iraq. [145182]

§ Mr. Ingram
This is an issue for the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) rather than for my Department. However, the planned United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) assessment of post-conflict environmental and human health issues in Iraq will include those relating to depleted uranium (DU). We continue to liaise with UNEP and to share information as part of our contribution to efforts to ensure that the Iraqi people and others are protected against ionizing radiation and hazards from whatever source. Although we have not received any request for information or support in relation to biological monitoring, full details of our biological monitoring policy are available to all at www.mod.uk/issues/depleted_uranium/du_biomonitoring.htm; we would be happy to provide advice to the CPA or UNEP if required.

§ Phil Sawford
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which British companies are known to have supplied(a) weapons and (b) weapons technology to Iraq in the 10 years prior to the Gulf war in 1991. [145295]

§ Nigel Griffiths
I have been asked to reply.
The issue of the export of defence equipment and dual-use goods from the United Kingdom to Iraq in the period 1984–1990 was the subject of the Inquiry by Sir Richard Scott (now Lord Scott of Foscote), copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. The question relates to a period prior to the Government's decision to publish an annual report on strategic export controls.

§ Mrs. Liddell
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the roles being undertaken by reservists in Iraq. [143734]

§ Mr. Ingram
The range of roles provided by reservists to support Operation TELIC broadly reflects those undertaken by the Regular Forces plus a number of specialist areas unique to the Reserves. The range includes: RN amphibious warfare advisers, logisticians, intelligence analysts, linguists, RN mine warfare specialists, media operations, combat engineers, amphibious bridging specialists, signallers, port operating specialists, NEC warfare specialists, movements personnel, medical personnel, meteorologists, aircrew, ground crew, railway specialists, POL operators, HGV drivers, cooks, ambulance crews, administrative staff and the Army and Royal Marine combat arms.