§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British(a) officials, (b) Ministers and (c) service personnel were issued with copies of International Committee of the Red Cross working 1186W papers about detainee conditions and treatment in Iraq delivered to Coalition Forces headquarters in October and November 2003. [183523]
§ Mr. HoonThe International Committee of the Red Cross produces confidential working papers following visits to detention facilities. The majority of these papers contain information relevant to local Commanders, and concern issues that can be resolved at a local level. However, where working papers have contained more substantive issues, these have been brought to the attention of Ministers.
A working paper dated 11 October 2003 was issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross to US service personnel in Iraq. This working paper was subsequently passed to UK service personnel and MOD Officials. This working paper was not passed to Ministers.
We are not aware of an ICRC working paper having been produced in November 2003.
§ Adam PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information has been given to the families of the deceased about the(a) progress and (b) conclusion of Royal Military Police investigations into deaths allegedly caused by UK forces in Iraq. [185888]
§ Mr. IngramDetails of the information passed to the families of Iraqis whose deaths were allegedly caused by UK forces are being withheld under Exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Bereaved families are kept informed of progress and results wherever possible, although the prevailing security situation in Iraq has made this difficult to achieve in every case.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel serving in Iraq since 1 January 2003 have been discharged from the forces as a result of injuries sustained from(a) road traffic accidents, (b) armed conflict and (c) other causes; and if he will make a statement. [186378]
§ Mr. IngramAs of 31 May 2004 centrally held records show that 16 service personnel who had been deployed on Operation Telic have subsequently been medically discharged from the armed forces as a result of injuries. The main reasons for medical discharges are as follows:
Causes of medical discharge Number of military personnel medically discharged1
Road traffic accidents 6 Battle wound or injury 1 Other causes 9 Total number of injuries 16 1Numbers of service personnel deployed on Op Telic and subsequent medical discharges excludes special forces personnel.
§ Mr. Bill WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has commissioned on the offensive capabilities of enemy insurgents in Iraq. [186773]
§ Mr. IngramThe Ministry of Defence has commissioned no external research on the offensive capabilities of enemy insurgents in Iraq. However, MOD continuously evaluates the offensive capabilities being used, working-closely with other relevant 1187W Government Departments. This evaluation draws on a range of materials from a variety of sources, and includes work to identify the weaponry and equipment available to insurgent groups as well as their training and military experience.