Written question asked by Madeleine Moon (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 December 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 December 2009. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 January 2010 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department (a) has had recently and (b) is planning to have with US officials on regulation of private military and security companies in Iraq and Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Ministry of Defence staff have frequent and regular communication with their US equivalents in order to ensure our coherence on a range of issues. The subject of private military security companies (PMSCs) has been discussed at staff level in broad terms over recent months as part of this routine interaction.The US, UK and Swiss Governments have all been working together closely to agree a set of draft international standards for the PMSC industry. As the lead UK Department on PMSC policy, the FCO hopes to agree these standards with the US and Swiss Governments in the course of next year through a series of workshops and a plenary conference where MOD will be represented.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 503 c34W; 307013
Session: 2009-10
Subjects: Iraq Peacekeeping operations Afghanistan Private military and security companies
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk