HC Deb 17 July 2003 vol 409 cc483-5W
Adam Price

To ask the Prime Minister what the status is of the Iraqi prisoners handed over to the US army by British troops. [125247]

Mr. Ingram

As at 8 July, the United States was holding on behalf of the United Kingdom one prisoner of war and 23 internees captured by British Forces, who are either suspected of committing criminal offences or are interned where necessary for imperative reasons of security in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries are providing troops for peacekeeping duties in Iraq. [124464]

Mr. Hoon

At least 18 states are expected to contribute military forces and personnel to work alongside United Kingdom and United States troops in the multi-national stabilisation force in Iraq. These states are Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Thailand and Ukraine. New Zealand will provide engineers for humanitarian and reconstruction tasks. Other nations are also expected to contribute.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training was given to Army personnel deployed on Operation Telic in respect of use of the grenade launchers for SA80A2. [125593]

Mr. Ingram

A specialist training team was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq, to provide in-theatre training to selected battalions on the use of the SA80 Under-slung Grenade Launcher (UGL). Some units had already received training, relating to their previous deployment to Afghanistan.

The main focus of the team was to train unit instructors and Senior Non-commissioned Officers, who then oversaw the training of other individuals within their units. This training was accompanied by training to unit armourers on holding and maintaining the UGL and its ammunition.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when orders were placed for additional desert clothing which was required for Operation Telic. [125595]

Mr. Ingram

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 June 2003,Official Report, column 46W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock).

Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many servicemen and women were(a) killed and (b) injured in the conflict in Iraq. [118047]

Mr. Ingram

As of 10 July, 43 United Kingdom military personnel had died since the start of coalition military operations against Iraq. All were men. Thirty-four were killed in action or subsequently died of wounds received and nine died in non-battle accidents or from natural causes; 155 UK military personnel were injured in battle. We do not hold central records for those injured in other incidents.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of each of the friendly fire incidents involving British personnel in Iraq; what changes are planned to reduce future occurrences; and if he will make a statement. [125982]

Mr. Ingram

Thorough investigations are on-going into all such incidents. We will give close consideration to the reports and recommendations of these investigations, and where appropriate, will consider what can be done further to improve the safety of our forces on operations.