Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 26 October 2005.

Iraq: Security Forces

Question: My Lords, the Minister referred to the fact that there are more than 200,000 members of the security forces. What use are security people if they do not have the equipment to do their job, and why are the Americans and the British failing to provide them with all the equipment they need?

Answer: My Lords, we are not failing to provide them with the equipment that they need. I saw for myself when I visited Basra and in particular the Al-Shaibah logistics base the equipment that we are providing—ranging, as I mentioned, from body armour and armoured Land Rovers to equipment such as uniforms. Most importantly, it includes training in command and control to enable the Iraqi security forces to be able to meet the threats that they face. It is not correct to say that we are not equipping them properly.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 674 c1163-4
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Iraq Protection Police Recruitment Peacekeeping operations Security
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk