§ Sir Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom UK forces in Iraq will answer in the event of allegations of war crimes or misconduct after 30 June; and if he will make a statement. [176809]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 8 June 2004]: United Kingdom forces, wherever they operate in the world, are subject to UK military law which includes criminal liability for offences committed overseas as set out in the Service Discipline Acts. This has always been the case in Iraq and will continue to apply for as long as British forces are present. As in the UK or in other operational theatres, the responsibility for enforcing the law lies with the Service police.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has examined in relation to civilian deaths cause by UK forces in the city of Amara between 3 and 6 April. [177585]
§ Mr. IngramThe Ministry of Defence examines information from a variety of sources to keep abreast of all developments in Iraq. In the week in question, nine Iraqis were confirmed killed in Al Amara, although the total number of fatalities cannot be confirmed. The deaths occurred during attacks on 1 Light Infantry in incidents while they were on patrol and during a demonstration. Those confirmed killed were directly involved in armed attacks on United Kingdom forces.
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§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he first made representations to his US counterpart regarding the International Committee of the Red Cross report on maltreatment of Iraqi prisoners by US forces in Iraq. [174592]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 20 May 2004]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 24 May 2004, Official Report, column 1353W.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether(a) private contractor interrogators and (b) advisers on interrogation techniques of any nationality have been allowed access to (i) prisons and (ii) other places of detention under British control in Iraq. [174666]
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those matters in respect of security policies implemented by Coalition forces in Iraq which are(a) his responsibility, (b) the responsibility of his United States counterpart and (c) matters for which responsibility is joint. [175073]
§ Mr. IngramThe actions of United Kingdom forces are the responsibility of the UK. The United States is responsible for the actions of US forces. As is the case with many multinational operations the UK commander reports to the Multinational Force commander whilst remaining under British national control, through the Permanent Joint Headquarters to the Ministry of Defence. The other members of the Multinational Force have their own national chains of command.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether interrogators used by the British armed forces are permitted to make direct physical threats to those held in custody. [175066]
§ Mr. IngramNo. All United Kingdom interrogators must successfully complete a stringent course prior to undertaking any operational interrogations. During the course they are specifically instructed that individuals being questioned must be treated at all times in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. Use of physical threats could amount to mental torture or coercion, both of which are banned by the Conventions.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the number of Iraqi civilians killed in consequence of military operations carried out by British forces since the invasion of Iraq began. [171520]
§ Mr. IngramWe have no reliable means of ascertaining the numbers of Iraqi civilians killed during major combat operations between 19 March and 1 May 2003.
Since 1 May the United Kingdom Units have reported all confirmed fatalities of which they are aware arising from incidents in which they were involved and we have put in place a mechanism for central collation of unit reports. However it is not always possible to confirm whether fatalities or injuries have occurred during a particular incident. For example, in some incidents we believe Iraqi dead and/or injured may have been taken away by their compatriots before UK forces could investigate. In other incidents UK forces have 642W been forced to withdraw before any Iraqi fatalities and/or injuries could be confirmed. Consequently we have no viable means of assessing the completeness of the information.
§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of Iraqi civilians killed(a) during the war, (b) since President Bush declared an end to hostilities and (c) in early April in Fallujah; and if he will make a statement. [171853]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 11 May 2004]: We have no reliable means of ascertaining the numbers of Iraqi civilians killed during major combat operations between 19 March and 1 May 2003.
Since 1 May, United Kingdom Units have reported all confirmed fatalities of which they are aware arising from incidents in which they were involved and we have put in place a mechanism for central collation of unit reports. However it is not always possible to confirm whether fatalities or injuries have occurred during a particular incident. For example, in some incidents we believe Iraqi dead and/or injured may have been taken away by their compatriots before UK forces could investigate. In other incidents UK forces have been forced to withdraw before any Iraqi fatalities and/or injuries could be confirmed. Consequently we have no viable means of assessing the completeness of the information.
We are not in a position to comment on civilian casualties allegedly caused by other coalition partners.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Ministers were first informed that some prisoners in UK custody were being mistreated in Iraq. [172996]
§ Mr. HoonMinisters were informed that the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police had commenced an investigation into the alleged ill-treatment and false imprisonment of Iraqi civilians on 22 April 2003. The investigation concluded that there was no case to answer.
§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specific training has been given to British servicemen and women in respect of(a) interviewing and (b) managing civilian detainees in Iraq; and if he will place a copy of the manual used in such training in the Library. [173340]
§ Mr. IngramSpecialist training for personnel responsible for interviewing detainees is provided through a series of up to three courses based upon the Geneva Conventions and the Laws of Armed Conflict.
British forces personnel in Iraq have the authority to detain persons who pose a threat to their safety or security. All members of the Army therefore receive training on prisoner handling. In the case of soldiers this is during their Phase 1 training and for officers at RMA Sandhurst. This training is supplemented annually in the form of Individual Training Directives (Army) (ITD(A)). ITD(A)s are mandatory for all Army personnel and provide annual training on the law of armed conflict and include direction on prisoner handling. Those deploying on operations must also complete mandated Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) 643W which includes guidance on the procedures for handling prisoners. Personnel are advised that such training is equally applicable to detainees.
I shall place a copy of the relevant ITD(A) and 'A Soldier's Guide to the Law of Armed Conflict' in the Library. In respect to the other manuals used in such training, I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relates to defence, security and international relations.
§ Tom CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list independent observer groups which have visited United Kingdom-run prisons in Iraq holding Iraqi prisoners during the last 12 months. [174000]
§ Mr. IngramThe International Committee of the Red Cross visits the United Kingdom's Divisional Temporary Detention Facility at Shaibah on a regular basis.
The House of Commons Defence Select Committee have visited the facility but did not meet any detainees.
§ Glenda JacksonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his oral statement of 27 May 2004, on Iraq, whether the sovereign interim Government of Iraq will be party to the consideration of disposition of forces required in Iraq until elections in 2005. [177504]
§ Mr. IngramThe relationship between the Multinational Force and the sovereign Government of Iraq is described in the exchange of letters referred to in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546, which the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary placed in the Library of the House on 7 June. As the Resolution itself makes clear, the Security Council would terminate the mandate of the Multinational Force at any time if so requested by the Government of Iraq.