Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 26 October 2005.

Iraq: Security Forces

Question: My Lords, does my noble friend agree that sobering as the figures quoted by the noble Baroness, Lady Williams, are, and dreadful as we all acknowledge that loss of life to be, none the less, volunteers for the Iraqi security forces continue to be recruited? They are volunteers; the situation is not as it was in the days of Saddam Hussein. While those young men are willing to put their lives on the line for Iraq’s future they deserve our support.

Answer: My Lords, I absolutely agree with my noble friend. The losses that the Iraqi security forces are taking are indeed tragic and of real concern. We are doing everything that we can to help them mitigate those losses and develop their capability. We should pay tribute in this House to the bravery of those young men—and women in some cases—in the way in which they are working to develop control over their own security. We have 115 Iraqi security force battalions in place. There is a degree of capability that needs to develop. Training has some way to go, but we are determined to provide it.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 674 c1164
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