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18 Jun 2003 : Column 250W—continued
Gulf Deployment
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) plans and (b) provision his Department has made for transporting troops no longer involved in active operational duties in the Gulf back to the UK; what the timetable is for returning troops home; and if he will make a statement. [110542]
Mr. Ingram: United Kingdom Military Campaign Objectives contain a commitment to withdraw British Military Forces from Iraq as soon as practicable. Regular announcements on 11 April 2003, Official Report, columns 38–39WS, 30 April 2003, Official Report, columns 15–16WS and 11 June 2003, Official Report, columns 52–53WS, have been made outlining in some detail the plans and arrangements for moving UK forces to and from the Middle East, and these will continue.
The planning process is dynamic and we will continue to review our force levels to ensure that we maintain an appropriate military presence for as long as is necessary.
Infantry Regiments
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce the number of infantry regiments. [119619]
Mr. Ingram: There are no plans to reduce the number of infantry regiments.
Iraq Survey Group
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the costs of the Iraqi survey group will be met by (a) coalition forces and (b) the proposed Iraqi assistance fund. [114561]
Mr. Hoon: On current plans, costs in respect of units and personnel contributed to the Iraq Survey Group will be met by the contributing nations. Costs in respect of the continued disarmament of Iraq, for example decontamination of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) sites or long-term storage of WMD materials, may be met from the Development Fund for Iraq,
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consistent with the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people and as set out; in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483 (2003).
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government will take to verify the origin of material linked to weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq. [111113]
Mr. Hoon: Coalition forces in Iraq have dedicated resources to conducting investigations into sites, personnel, documentation and other forms of evidence that may be connected to programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The objective of these investigations will be to account for Iraqi WMD and related facilities and ensure that these are no longer a threat. Where possible and practicable, we will also aim to identify the origin of any materials linked to Iraqi WMD programmes where these materials may have been supplied in breach of sanctions imposed by the United Nations or other international agreements.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many alleged sites of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq identified by the Government are fully secured by coalition forces; and how many have yet to be (a) secured and (b) inspected. [113011]
Mr. Hoon: As at 7 June 2003, Coalition forces had initiated investigations into 140 sites within Iraq, from a list of over 500, which may be connected to programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction. Additionally, investigations had been initiated into a further 74 sites identified since the conflict began. We anticipate that further sites will be identified as investigations progress. Where these sites are thought to contain materials which may relate to weapons of mass destruction programmes, or otherwise contain hazardous substances, Coalition forces are taking action to secure them.
Unexploded Ordnance
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is working with NGOs in Iraq to educate the public about the dangers of unexploded ordnance. [117037]
Mr. Ingram: Providing a safe, secure and risk free environment for the Iraqi people is a key aspect of restoration activity for the Coalition. The United Kingdom itself has made a significant effort to educate the local population in its area of operations about the dangers of mines and unexploded ordnance. A Theatre Mine Risk Education Programme has been developed with the support of UNICEF and the ICRC. A poster and leaflet campaign has been carried out, head teachers in Basrah have been briefed and military teams are delivering mine and unexploded ordnance awareness training to Primary and Secondary schools on a daily basis using material approved by the ICRC. In addition to this local radio stations are informing the local population about unexploded ordnance and encouraging them not to tamper with anything that has either been marked as or may look like unexploded ordnance.
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Medical Distribution Network
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the British army is doing to restore the medical distribution network in Iraq. [117057]
Mr. Caplin: United Kingdom forces are working with the local health authority and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to re-stock the central Basrah warehouse, from which drugs and pharmaceuticals were supplied before the war. They have also provided security for the warehouse and for deliveries to local medical facilities. These medical facilities have been visited on a regular basis. UK forces are also working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and NGOs to correct any deficiencies there might be in drugs for chronic illnesses. Along with the WHO, we are monitoring humanitarian donations ensuring that they are appropriate and properly used. The Office of the Provisional Coalition Authority in Baghdad intends to reintroduce routine re-supply in the near future.
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the bunker-buster missiles used in Iraq were tipped with depleted uranium. [118323]
Mr. Ingram: There is no air-launched ordnance containing depleted uranium in United Kingdom service.
Operation TELIC
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) reservists and (b) regulars on Operation TELIC have been medically downgraded, broken down by service; what percentage of the force deployed by each service these figures represent; and if he will make a statement. [119010]
Mr. Caplin: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Parliamentary Questions
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in response to how many parliamentary written questions during the 2002–03 session he has decided to withhold information under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information; and what percentage of written questions asked this constitutes. [119104]
Mr. Caplin [holding answer 13 June 2003]: During the current session 3,160 parliamentary written questions have been tabled to the Ministry of Defence. From the information available on our database, information was withheld in 142 questions under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. This is equivalent to 4 per cent. In some instances a Code exemption will have been cited to withhold only part of the information requested.
The hon. Member will be aware that the Select Committee on Public Administration publish this information in their report 'Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions'. Their last report was published on 13 December 2000 for Session 2000–01.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH
Liberia
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action he has taken to support the extradition of President Taylor of Liberia; [119365]
- (2) what steps the Department is taking to help bring peace to Liberia; [119361]
(3) if he will make a statement on (a) the UN indictment of Charles Taylor for war crimes and (b) his Department's work to reduce conflict in Liberia; [119362]
(4) if he will make a statement on the impact of UN sanctions against Liberia. [119364]
Mr. Mullin: On 4 June 2003 the Special Court for Sierra Leone unsealed an indictment for President Charles Taylor of Liberia for bearing the greatest responsibility for war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sierra Leone since 1996. The UK has called on President Taylor to hand himself over to the Special Court. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1470 calls on all countries to cooperate with the Special Court.
The UK has been instrumental in containing Taylor's Liberia through UN sanctions aimed at stopping the funding of arms purchases, a travel ban on those who breach the arms embargo and a ban on timber exports which takes effect on 7 July. We are working through the International Contact Group on Liberia, the UN and the EU to encourage all sides to participate actively in peace negotiations taking place in Akasombo, Ghana. Our aim is an immediate cease-fire and a comprehensive negotiated political settlement.
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