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Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 7 March 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 9 March 2007. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 March 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq: Security Guards

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will estimate (a) how many private military and security companies are operating in Iraq and (b) how many individuals are employed by such companies in that country.
Answer

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep a record of private military and security companies operating in Iraq. The Private Security Company Association of Iraq (PSCAI) (www.pscai.org) has fifty companies listed as members and estimates that the total private security company workforce is approximately 30,000 employees, broken down as follows:

Number
Citizens of United States/United Kingdom/Australia; 5,000
Third country nationals such as Fijians, South Americans, Georgians, Ghurkas etc 10,000
Iraqis 15,000

Figures are difficult to accurately assess as the labour force is very mobile and membership of PSCAI is not compulsory.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
458 c384-5W; 127018
Session
2006-07
Subjects
Iraq Peacekeeping operations Private military and security companies
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk