Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Monday, 18 June 2007 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Iraq

Question: I am grateful for that answer. It is absolutely right for our troops to be given the best possible protection against any threat that they might face, but as the Secretary of State knows, there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Indeed, the defence and intelligence services appeared to know that when Ministers were telling us that there were plenty of them. On what date was it therefore decided that those precautions and that equipment could be safely withdrawn from our troops?

Answer: No such decision has been made. I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that insurgents in Iraq are deploying chlorine bombs, which fit into the category of chemical attacks, so we need to keep our guard up against that sort of development. Over and above that, of course, we have occasionally encountered stocks, albeit pre-1991 stocks, of Saddam Hussein’s weapons. They also pose a continuing danger if we come across them, so we have taken no decision such as the hon. Gentleman mentions.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 461 c1068-9
Session: 2006-07
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Related items: Iraq
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Defence equipment Iraq Protective clothing Weapons Armed forces Training Weapons of mass destruction
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk