HC Deb 22 January 2004 vol 416 cc1392-3W
Adam Price

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many international law enforcement officers are stationed in the British zone in Southern Iraq. [141680]

Mr. Ingram

As at 16 January 2004, there were around 645 international law enforcement officers stationed in the British zone in Southern Iraq. This figure includes international civilian police officers, contract police officers and carabinieri who are mandated with civilian policing powers.

Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the Department has been to date in respect of the Iraq conflict; and what the projected costs are for(a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006. [148779]

Mr. Ingram

Outturn information for 2002–03 on the cost of operations in Iraq has been published as part of the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts. Operating Costs for 2002–03 for operations in Iraq total £629.531 million. Expenditure on capital equipment amounts to £217.680 million. The grand total is, therefore, £847.211 million.

For 2003–04, funding voted at Winter Supplementary Estimates amounted to £1.2 billion and covered the cost of peacekeeping and associated Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs). The MOD will seek a further £300 million at Spring Supplementary Estimates to cover primarily the cost of the Recuperation of my Department's operational capability. Thus, the total sought in 2003–04 will be £1.5 billion.

It is too early to say what costs might be incurred after 2003–04.

Mr. Gray

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his statement of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 690, on the National Audit Office Report on Operation Telic, when he gave Mrs. Samantha Roberts, a(a) summary of the incident in which her husband died and (b) ballistics report; when he met Mrs. Roberts; when the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch report into Sergeant Roberts' death will be published; and when the Army Board of Inquiry into Sergeant Roberts' death will be convened. [149539]

Mr. Hoon

Mrs. Roberts was provided with a summary of the incident on 18 June 2003 by the Casualty Visiting Officer. A report summary of the weapons test was passed to Mrs. Roberts in December 2003. I met Mrs. Roberts, together with other members of Sergeant Roberts' family, on 15 October 2003 and 19 January 2004.

It is not clear when the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch investigation will conclude, but a briefing will be offered to Mrs. Roberts as soon as is practicable, once the SIB's findings are known. A Board of Inquiry will be convened when the SIB investigation has concluded.