§ Mr. Paul KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions are attached to the payment of compensation to Iraqi civilians who have lost relatives due to UK actions; and if he will make a statement. [151617]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 30 January 2004]: Claims made by Iraqis for losses that do not arise in connection with combat operations are handled in accordance with the direction of the Coalition Provisional Authority—specifically Section 6 of CPA order number 17.This states that:
'Third party claims including those for property loss or damage and for personal injury and death or in respect of any other matter arising form or attributing to Coalition personnel or any persons employed by them, whether normally resident in Iraq or not, and that do rot arise in connection with military combat operations, shall by submitted and dealt with by the Parent State whose coalition personnel, property, activities or other assets are alleged to have caused the claimed damage, in a manner consistent with the national laws of the Parent State'.Hence, we will generally pay compensation in circumstances where the claims officer decides that, on the balance of probability, the claim would give rise to a legal liability under English Law.
549WIraqi claimants who are offered compensation are required to sign a declaration that:
I, name of claimant, agree to accept the sum of $xxxx in respect of the loss of my son/daughter/father/mother [name]. I understand and accept that this offer is made without admission of liability of behalf of the British contingent of the Coalition Forces in Iraq, and is a full and final settlement of all claims whatsoever relating to the incident that occurred on ddmmyyyy.'Liability is not admitted as to do so would set a precedent for further claims relating to the incident and future claims.
This is not a liability waiver. Such a waiver would require those compensated to waive some legal rights— including the right to sue for personal injury or death. This type of waiver would normally be used for example when one is undertaking an adventurous activity that carries with it a high level of risk.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of politically motivated killings within the British zone in Southern Iraq perpetrated by political groups represented within the Iraqi Governing Council. [153873]
§ Mr. IngramWe are not aware of any deaths within the UK area of responsibility in southern Iraq, which have been attributed to a person or political group represented within the Iraqi Governing Council.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence in relation to the deaths of which civilians in Iraq the UK Government has made ex-gratia payments to the families of the deceased; and how much has been paid in each case. [154477]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 11 February 2004]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the library of the House
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates and in relation to which individuals UK forces in Iraq have informed the International Committee of the Red Cross of confirmed civilian casualties which(a) have been caused and (b) are alleged to have been caused by UK forces. [154488]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 12 February 2004]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the house.
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2004,Official Report, column 919W, on Iraq, how many ex-gratia payments have been made to Iraqis regardless of legal liability, broken down by (a) amount and (b) reason for the payment in each case; and if he will make a statement. [154901]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 3 March 2004]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much fuel was purchased for UK forces in Iraq for each month since the inception of the war; from which(a) country and (b) company the fuel was purchased; and what the average price paid was. [154953]
550W
§ Mr. IngramBetween August 2003 and February 2004. United Kingdom forces purchased the following amounts of fuel from Jassim Transport and Stevedoring Co WLL, Kuwait:
Diesel Unleaded Volume (litres) Cost (£) Volume (litres) Cost (£) August 2003 300,000 35,015 433,000 50,539 September 2003 330,000 38,517 360,000 42,018 October 2003 240,500 28,071 415,000 48,438 November 2003 186,500 21,768 388,000 45,287 December 2003 106,000 12,372 385,000 44,936 January 2004 594,500 69,389 275,000 32,097 February 2004 265,000 30,930 428,500 50,014 Totals 2,022,500 236,062 2,684,500 313,329 No figures are available prior to this date as diesel and unleaded petrol were provided to UK forces through the US supply chain.
The UK does not purchase aviation fuel for its forces in Iraq. This is supplied by the US, which has lead-nation responsibility in this area.
§ Tom CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid to families of Iraqi civilians killed by UK personnel in Iraq. [158034]
§ Mr. IngramI will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the(a) age and (b) sex of those Iraqi civilians (i) whose deaths have been investigated by the Special Investigations Branch and (ii) whose deaths have resulted in the offer of ex gratia payments from the United Kingdom Government. [158861]
§ Mr. IngramI will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.