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18 Nov 2003 : Column 750W—continued

Defence Estates (Pilning Range)

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the land owned by Defence Estates South West at Pilning Range will be subject to an open market bidding process when it is sold; and if he will make a statement. [138967]

Mr. Caplin: Under the terms of the Joint Declaration of Intent between Ministry of Defence and English Nature the MOD will give advance warning to English Nature of any intended disposal of land wholly or partially notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). English Nature may then advise MOD on ways to secure wildlife opportunities and to nominate a suitable purchaser. This procedure has operated in the case of Pilning Range, and English Nature have nominated the Avon Wildlife Trust as a suitable purchaser. The balance of the site not purchased by the Wildlife Trust will be offered by open and public competition.

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Defence Export Services

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been made to him from (a) other governments and (b) foreign non-governmental organisations on the Defence Services export international arms fair held in London. [138567]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has received letters and comments of thanks from many of the official overseas defence delegations that attended the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition.

I am unaware of any representations from foreign non-governmental organisations.

Depleted Uranium

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has (a) initiated and (b) evaluated on the effects of depleted uranium on British (i) service personnel and (ii) civilians; and if he will make a statement. [138794]

Mr. Caplin: We are currently initiating research to provide an understanding of the extent of any depleted uranium intake by United Kingdom ground forces during Operation TELIC.

In accordance with the Biological Monitoring Policy for DU on Operations all regular and reservist service personnel and attached civilians who deployed on Operation TELIC are entitled to a urine test on their return if they wish. To provide a baseline for comparison we have asked the Institute of Occupation Medicine in Edinburgh to carry out a study to establish normative values for uranium and its isotopes in urine of a military population which did not deploy.

The Ministry of Defence is currently placing contracts for the collection and analysis of urine samples for the voluntary screening programme for DU for veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf Conflict and service in the Balkans. In the event that DU is detected, any links between DU exposure and ill health will be investigated by means of an epidemiological study. A study to establish normative values for uranium and its isotopes in urine in a United Kingdom civilian population is also being commissioned.

Gulf War Syndrome

Mr. Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent evidence he has collated relating to Gulf War Syndrome; what studies have been commissioned by him in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [132694]

Mr. Caplin [holding answer 20 October 2003]: The Government's position remains as set out in my answers of 23 June 2003, Official Report, columns 687–89W. The fact that the Government does not recognise "Gulf War Syndrome" as a medical condition does not mean that veterans cannot claim war pensions: war pensions are paid on the basis of disability, not diagnosis.

Full details of all the research studies related to Gulf veterans' illnesses which are being funded by the Government are available on the Internet at: www. mod.uk.issues/gulfwar/research.htm.

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A considerable amount of research into Gulf veterans' illnesses has been undertaken in the United States and its Department of Defense have also funded research in the United Kingdom. There is scientific evidence that some veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict report a number of recognised medical conditions. However, the overwhelming consensus of the scientific and medical community is that there is insufficient evidence to enable this ill-health to be characterised as a unique illness, condition or 'syndrome'.

Inquiries

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list outstanding inquiries relating to operations in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [131994]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 16 October 2003]: There are no outstanding boards of inquiry or Special Investigation Branch investigations relating to operations in Afghanistan.

As at 31 October there were 35 boards of inquiry outstanding from operations in Iraq. Boards of inquiry often require a year or more to complete to ensure that the incident in question can be properly considered and the correct conclusions drawn. There are 44 outstanding Special Investigation Branch investigations relating to operations in Iraq, some of which are being conducted in support of the 35 boards of inquiry.

Further details of the inquiries and investigations are being withheld under exemptions 1 and 12 of the Code of Practice on access to government information.

Iraq

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British wounded have been brought back from Iraq since United Kingdom military action began in March. [132206]

Mr. Ingram: Since the beginning of the decisive combat operations in Iraq on 19 March 2003 and as at 14 November 2003, 145 United Kingdom military personnel have been wounded in action, of whom 74 needed to be brought back to the UK for medical treatment.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the success of measures taken to avoid using cluster munitions near civilian areas in Iraq. [135854]

Mr. Ingram: We made every effort to minimise the impact on the Iraqi population of the coalition's military action. Cluster munitions were employed against Iraqi armoured formations in the open and on the periphery of built up areas.

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of former regime arms dumps within the British area of responsibility in Iraq; and what measures are being put in place to guard former regime arms dumps within the British area of responsibility. [134457]

Mr. Ingram: Since the end of major combat operations United Kingdom forces have discovered an average of about 45 new sites containing arms and/or

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munitions each week. The large amount of arms present in Iraq means that where arms are discovered we cannot always tell whether they were left by the former regime or by other organisations or individuals. All sites containing arms or munitions are marked and then cleared once resources permit. Sites containing large numbers of arms are guarded by UK forces until they can be cleared.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the level of priority given to (a) avoiding civilian casualties and (b) ensuring the security of British troops in respect of unexploded ordnance clearance in Iraq. [135855]

Mr. Ingram: The provision of a safe, secure and risk free environment for the Iraqi people is a key aspect of reconstruction activity for all members of the International Coalition in Iraq. The United Kingdom takes seriously its obligations as a member of that coalition to deal with unexploded ordnance.

We afford a high priority to avoiding any injury or casualty from unexploded ordnance. Clearance operations are performed by specialists to minimise the chances of accidents occurring.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) gun and (b) bomb attacks there were on British troops in the provinces of (i) Basra City and (c) Maysan, broken down by type of incident and weapons used since 1 May, indicating in each case how many (A) British troops and (B) Iraqi civilians were (1) killed and (2) injured in each incident; and if he will make a statement. [136604]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 10 November 2003]: Many of the following figures have been compiled under operational conditions and may therefore be subject to future refinement and revision. Figures were not collected before 1 June.

Between 1 June and 17 October 2003 (the date of the last update) there were 108 deliberate attacks on coalition forces in the United Kingdom led Multi-National Division South East MND(SE) area of operations.

In the same period there were 101 contact incidents (in which coalition forces have been caught up in tribal feuding or attempted crimes but were not the object of the attack) in Basrah Province and 23 contact incidents in Maysan Province. 88 of these contact incidents involved British Forces.

Five incidents (including one outside the MND(SE) area) resulted in the deaths of British personnel as follows:

Date	Casualties	Nature of incident	Firearmsor Bomb
24 June	6 Killed	Ambush of Royal Military Police patrol in Al Majir Al Kabir.	Firearms
14 August	1 Killed	Roadside improvised explosive, device detonated as military ambulance drove by. Basrah.	Bomb
23 August	3 Killed	Ambush of RMP in Basrah.	Firearms
27 August	1 Killed	Ambush in Basrah.	Firearms
31 October	1 Killed	Ambush in Baghdad.	Firearms

23 British soldiers have been injured in these attacks, 10 with gunshot wounds and 13 with other types of injury.

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We have no reliable figures on Iraqi casualties as collection is virtually impossible: enemy forces frequently remove their casualties from the scene or seek to blame the coalition for casualties they could not possibly have caused. Of those incidents notified to British forces there are currently 22 Special Investigation Branch Investigations involving 17 deaths of and a number of injuries to Iraqis allegedly caused by British personnel.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqis are being interned by the British forces because they are perceived to be a threat to coalition forces; how long each such person has been held; what plans the British authorities in Basra have for such people; and if he will make a statement. [136606]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 10 November 2003]: As at 13 November, there were 125 Iraqis being interned by the British Forces because they were considered to be a threat to Coalition Forces. The maximum length of time that any person has been held is just under six months; the least one week. Every 28 days, a review is conducted to determine whether continued internment is necessary. Procedures are in place to allow internees to appeal against their continued internment. Individuals will continue to be held until such time as they are no longer considered a threat to Coalition Forces.

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what means UK forces in Iraq have sought to confirm whether civilian fatalities have occurred during incidents involving the use of firearms and other lethal force by UK military personnel since the end of the conflict. [136923]

Mr. Ingram: UK forces in Iraq seek to confirm whether civilian fatalities have occurred during incidents involving the use of firearms and other lethal force by UN military personnel since the end of the conflict by the use of appropriate policing techniques as the operational situation allows.

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq. [139376]

Mr. Ingram: Iraq continues to make progress and is broadly stable. The majority of incidents occur around Baghdad. Throughout the country increasing numbers of Iraqi police are on patrol, reconstruction of essential services and infrastructure continues and most of the population go about their daily lives without hindrance.

Attacks such as that on the Italian headquarters in Nasiriyah are the work of a violent few. Innocent Iraqi civilians have died in these attacks: they are as much victims of the terrorists as coalition forces.

Coalition forces and the Iraqi police are working hard to provide a safe and secure environment. They will not be deflected from that mission.

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are being taken to fit British military vehicles in Iraq with vehicle protection kits. [139615]

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Mr. Ingram: Following public disorder events in Iraq during August, a requirement was identified to fit Vehicle Protection Kits (VPK) to a range of Combat Support Vehicles. Delivery to theatre began in mid August and should be completed by the end of February 2004.

In addition, the requirement to equip battlefield engineering and plant vehicles deployed to Iraq with VPKs is currently being assessed.

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost is per day, per person, of the food provided to British security personnel in Iraq. [129997]

Mr. Ingram: The Ministry of Defence identifies the costs of Operations in terms of the net additional costs it has incurred. The costs, which the MOD would have incurred had the operation not been undertaken—expenditure on wages and salaries or on conducting training exercises for example—are deducted from the total costs of the operation.

The cost of food is not identified separately, but is contained within stock consumption, along with ammunition, clothing and vehicle and equipment spares for example. Costs are not incurred on a regular daily basis and force levels have fluctuated considerably. As a result, to attempt to provide monthly average costs would be misleading.

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rotation schedule is expected for troops in Iraq. [130279]

Mr. Ingram: The majority of United Kingdom military units deployed to Iraq undertake tours of either four or six months depending on the role they perform. This can be varied according to operational requirements. There is also some variation in cases of individual personnel who may be required to deploy for longer or short periods.

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