HC Deb 12 March 2004 vol 418 c1775W
Tom Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi men have died while being held in British military custody in Iraq: what the cause of death was in each case; and if he will make a statement. [158033]

Mr. Ingram

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 4 December 2003. (Official Report, column 127W) to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Harry Cohen).

Cause of death is not something for investigating Royal Military Police personnel to determine.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the investigation into the death, in British custody, of Baha Mousa, in Iraq; when the investigation is likely to be completed; and whether the findings will be made public. [146515]

Mr. Ingram

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 March 2004,Official Report, column 1050W. The result of the investigation will be made public in due course.

Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold an independent public inquiry into the deaths of the six Royal Military police officers from the Colchester garrison who were killed in Iraq. [151785]

Mr. Hoon

The Royal Military Police's Special Investigations Branch is conducting a thorough investigation into the deaths of the soldiers. The conduct of such investigations is independent of the Army's chain of command. When the investigation has been completed a full report will be given to the families concerned. I will make public as many of its findings as possible, subject to operational and other security constraints.