HC Deb 18 July 2003 vol 409 cc913-5W
Angus Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when investigations into friendly fire incidents during Operation Telic will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [122154]

to these there are numerous other Open Days, Family Days, and similar events across all three Services.

Mr. Ingram

Thorough investigations are continuing into all such incidents. In conducting our own investigations into incidents of fratricide during the conflict we will of course carefully consider all relevant information as part of our effort to lessen the chance of such incidents occurring in the future. It would be inappropriate to comment on the conduct of our inquiries until such time as the outcomes are known and the content has been properly assessed.

Richard Younger-Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the dates for ends of tours of duty in Operation Telic for(a) regular forces and (b) Reservists and Territorial Army serving in the same unit. [125967]

Mr. Caplin

[holding answer 15 July 2003]: On the completion of the combat phase of the campaign in Iraq, units which had a role in the stabilisation and rebuilding phase remained in theatre. Reservists serving with those units remained with them. Units which did not have a role in the stabilisation and reconstruction phase returned to the United Kingdom and, in the main, the reservists attached to them returned with their units; however, some reservists from these units with scarce and badly-needed skills were re-deployed to other units in theatre which had shortfalls.

Regular members of two units, 33 and 34 field hospitals, returned to the UK shortly after the cessation of hostilities in order to take on another operational role and for a period of leave before re-deploying back to theatre. Reservists who were attached to 34 field hospital, and had skills required for the continuing operations, remained in theatre to complete up to six months' deployment.

Reservists called out for the current operations in Iraq have been advised that their deployments will be for up to six months; the end of tour date for their units has not yet been decided but is unlikely to be more than six months after deployment. The expectation is that all reservists will return with their regular units.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy vessels were deployed in escorting duties during Operation Telic; and at which choke points and known threat areas they were stationed. [126098]

Mr. Ingram

Outside the Joint Operational Area HMS Westminster and HMS Cornwall provided escort duties in the Straits of Gibraltar on rotation with the vessels of other nations. The NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic and Standing Naval Force Mediterranean undertook escorting duties in the Eastern Mediterranean. Within the Joint Operational Area, force protection was provided by the host nation in the Suez canal and non United Kingdom coalition assets in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab Al Mandeb.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what political advisers were deployed on Operation Telic; to which commanders they were assigned; and when they were(a) sent to and (b) withdrawn from theatre. [126101]

Mr. Ingram

Political advisers are deployed with United Kingdom forces to support the Commanders' decision making process with policy and political advice. They are Ministry of Defence officials and are able to draw on the expertise both from within the Ministry of Defence and across Government when providing advice. Political advisers were provided to the majority of component commanders during Operation Telic.

I am withholding details of the individuals under Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent reports he has received from US authorities in respect of friendly fire incidents involving UK forces during Operation Telic; whether US investigations involving British forces are complete; and what assessment he has made of these reports. [126134]

Mr. Ingram

No such reports have yet been received. In conducting our own investigations into incidents of fratricide during the conflict we will of course carefully consider all relevant information as part of our effort to lessen the chance of such incidents occurring in the future. It would be inappropriate to comment on the conduct of our enquiries until such time as the outcomes are known and the content has been properly assessed.