HL Deb 07 June 2004 vol 662 cc7-8WA
Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what date the International Committee of the Red Cross February interim report to Ambassador Bremer on the coalition facilities in Iraq was passed to the United Kingdom. [HL2768]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach)

A copy of the International Committee of the Red Cross's report on the treatment by the coalition forces of prisoners of war and other protected persons by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq during arrest, internment and interrogation, dated 10 February 2004, was passed by an official working for the Coalition Provisional Authority to the offices of Sir Jeremy Greenstock and the senior British military representative in Iraq on 12 February.

Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the International Committee of the Red Cross February interim report to Ambassador Bremer on coalition facilities in Iraq reached the United Kingdom Government via military or diplomatic channels; and whether the report was also made available to other coalition partners. [HL2771]

Lord Bach

The International Committee of the Red Cross's report on the treatment by the coalition forces of prisoners of war and other protected persons by the Geneva Conventions in Iraq during arrest, internment and interrogation, dated 10 February 2004, was formally passed to Ambassador Bremer and Lt Gen Sanchez on 26 February. An advance copy was passed by an official working for the Coalition Provisional Authority to the offices of Sir Jeremy Greenstock and the senior British military representative in Iraq on 12 February. The latter passed a copy of the report to Headquarters Multi-national Division (South East) on 13 February and to the permanent joint headquarters on 16 February, and posted a copy to the Ministry of Defence that arrived on 27 February. The Ministry of Defence did not pass a copy of the report to any other coalition partners.

Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have set up an internal inquiry to establish the reasons for the decision not to make Ministers aware of the contents of the International Committee of the Red Cross February interim report to Ambassador Bremer on coalition facilities in Iraq; and whether they will publish the findings of any such inquiry. [HL2773]

Lord Bach

Ministers were made aware of the issues contained in the International Committee of the Red Cross interim report relating to United Kingdom armed forces, five months before they were made aware of the report. Ministers subsequently received an explanation of the handling of the full report. A formal internal inquiry has not been established.