HC Deb 19 January 2004 vol 416 cc915-7W
Adam Price

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will name the Iraqi civilians killed in incidents which have been investigated since the end of the conflict by the Special Investigation Branch. [141674]

Mr. Ingram

United Kingdom Military Authorities in Iraq have investigated or are investigating the deaths of the following Iraqi Civilians, all of which are thought to have occurred since 1 May 2003:

  • Ali Salaam Aziz Mohammed
  • Dyab Rehman Nasser
  • Rhadi Nama
  • Ahmed Jabber Kareem
  • Nadhem Abdulha
  • Abd Al Jubba Mousa Ali
  • Hazma Abdul Hussein Al-Askary
  • Said Shabram
  • Wael Jabber Raheem
  • Jasim Yassim Jabbar Al-Shimillwy

Date Of Incident Date Investigation Started Name of Iraqi Civilian Stage of Investigation
8 May 2003 8 May 2003 Radhi Natna Investigation complete
8 May 2003 11 May 2003 Ahmad Jabber Kareem Investigation ongoing
17 May 2003 17 May 2003 Abd Al Jubba Mousa All Investigation ongoing
24 May 2003 24 May 2003 Said Shabram Investigation ongoing
2 Aug 2003 4 Aug 2003 Hassan Abbad Said Investigation ongoing
14 Sep 2003 15 Sept 2003 Baha Nasheem Mohammed Investigation ongoing

Mr. Keetch

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims have been submitted to the UK under section 6 of the Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 17; how many of these claims(a) give rise to and (b) do not give rise to a legal liability to pay compensation under English law; how many (i) compensation payments and (ii) ex-gratia payments have been made; and what the (A) amount and (B) reason for the payments was in each case. [146848]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 14 January 2004]A total of 588 claims for compensation have been submitted to the United Kingdom Authorities under section 6 of CPA Order Number 17. Of these, 13 have been transferred to other contingents/organisations, 226 have been repudiated, 57 have received payment, and

  • Waleed Fiay Mezban
  • Baha Nasheem Mohammed
  • Hassan Abbad Saied
  • Hussan Said Shaba Al-Bata.
Eight of these investigations have been completed. In three cases, the deaths were found to be as a result of road traffic accidents; in three cases it was found that troops had behaved in accordance with their Rules of Engagement and that there was no case to answer; in one case it was found that death had resulted from natural causes; and one case has been referred to the Army Prosecuting Authority to determine whether charges will be brought. Six of these investigations are on-going.

An investigation is also being conducted into the death of Ather Karen Al-Mowafakia, which occurred prior to 1 May 2003.

In addition, investigations have been conducted into an incident in which a member of UK armed forces and an Iraqi civilian (who has yet to be identified) died, and into a fatal traffic accident in which a Kuwaiti civilian died, the name of whom has been withheld by Iraqi police. Both of these incidents occurred before 1 May 2003. The first investigation is on-going; the second has concluded and determined that the incident was an accident.

Harry Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 4 December,Official Report, column 127W, on Iraq, if he will name the individuals whose deaths are being investigated; on what date each died; on what date each investigation began; and what stage each investigation has reached. [143058]

Mr. Ingram

The information requested is as follows:

the remainder are still under investigation. The following table summarises the compensation payments made to date:

Category Number of Cases Total Settlements(£)
Fatalities 3 8,125
Personal Injury 20 7,250
Property Damage 7 34,243
Road Traffic

Accidents

 27 22,606
Total 57 72,224

Ex-Gratia Payments are not covered by Section 6 of the Coalition Provisional Authority Number 17.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what strategy he is pursuing to(a) recover and (b) dispose of weaponry contaminated by depleted uranium in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [148054]

Mr. Ingram

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2004,Official Report, column 537W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Llew Smith).

Jeremy Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total volume is of depleted uranium tipped weapons used in Iraq between March and May 2003; and if he will make a statement. [148295]

Mr. Ingram

There are no depleted uranium tipped weapons in UK service. However, UK forces in Iraq used a depleted uranium (DU) round in anti-armour operations. The round comprises an outer casing or "sabot" that surrounds a long rod penetrator made of DU, plus charge and igniter components. 1.9 tonnes of DU were expended by British Challenger tanks during the recent conflict in Iraq.

Jeremy Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the availability is of cluster bombs to United Kingdom forces in Iraq. [148297]

Mr. Ingram

There are no cluster bombs held by UK forces in Iraq.