§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 16 May 2003,Official Report, column 454W, on non-precision weapons, how many (a) 5401b free fall bombs, (b) 1,0001b free fall bombs and (c) RBL 755 cluster bombs were dropped by UK forces in urban areas in (i) Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and (ii) Iraq during Operation Telic; whether, during post mission target assessments, 5401b and 1,0001b free fall bombs and RBL 755 cluster bombs are considered to have hit their target if they fall within the radius of their average accuracy; and if he will make a statement. [116051]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 3 June 2003]No weapons were dropped by United Kingdom aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. During the course of operations in Iraq, 655W while none of the weapons detailed in the question were dropped in dense urban areas, a number of military targets on the periphery of built up areas were attacked. 5401b and 1,0001b free fall bombs and RB 755 cluster bombs are considered to have hit their target if the weapon causes damage to the intended target.