Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Garden (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Monday, 4 June 2007.

Iraq: HMS ““Cornwall”” Inquiries

Question: My Lords, these Benches also add our condolences to the families of the three soldiers killed in Afghanistan. Last week was a difficult week for the multinational forces in general both in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is very heartening that the Fulton inquiry has reported so quickly, given that it comprised just Lieutenant-General Fulton and his major. It was an unusual process. Do we now expect to have a formal board of inquiry so that evidence may be taken in the normal way and that those who may be criticised for what happened will have a legal basis on which to defend themselves?

Answer: My Lords, we need to see the outcome of the inquiry. Both the Defence Select Committee and a group of noble Lords will have the opportunity to scrutinise the inquiry on a confidential basis; in this House the group will be under the chairmanship of my noble friend Lady Dean. I am not aware of decisions having been taken on the process following the Fulton inquiry. The noble Lord, Lord Garden, is absolutely right that this is an unusual process, but it was done to enable us to carry out the inquiry much more quickly than would otherwise have been the case, had we gone through a formal BoI. I believe that the House believes that to have been the right decision, but of course we will have to make sure that full opportunity is provided to all personnel concerned relating to any consequences of the Fulton inquiry.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 692 c883
Session: 2006-07
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Detainees Inquiries Iraq Peacekeeping operations Media Navy Territorial waters Iran Marines HMS Cornwall
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk