Iraq (Hansard, 28 January 2003)

§ Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the number of Iraqi civilian casualties that could arise from a war against Iraq. [91967]

§ Mr. Ingram
No decision on military action in Iraq has been taken. In any military action it is our policy, consistent with international law, to avoid civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure wherever possible, and to minimise them where they cannot be avoided.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with(a) France and (b) Germany on (i) co-operation in military action against Iraq and (ii) a European Union military force against Iraq. [92926]

§ Mr. Hoon
There has been no decision to take military action against Iraq. I have not discussed with my French or German colleagues bilateral co-operation, or any European Security and Defence Policy operation, in that context. Military action in Iraq is neither imminent nor inevitable.

§ Mr. Lyons
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British troops have been given orders in relation to protection of oil fields in Iraq. [93105]

§ Mr. Hoon
No decision has been taken to commit British forces to military action against Iraq. It would not be appropriate to comment on any tasks that might be undertaken by our forces in the event of military operations.