Written question asked by Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 28 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 November 2003. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 November 2003 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many unexploded cluster bomblets he estimates there are in Basra; how many unexploded cluster bomblets have been (a) cleared and (b) marked by munition clearance organisations in Basra since the end of hostilities in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figures.

Answer: Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many unexploded cluster bomblets he estimates there are in Basra; how many unexploded cluster bomblets have been (a) cleared and (b) marked by munition clearance organisations in Basra since the end of hostilities in Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [135853] Hilary Benn: UK forces used approximately 80 cluster bombs against a number of Iraqi military targets and fired around 2,000 artillery delivered L20A1 Enhanced Range Bomblet Shells, mainly in the UK area of operations around Basrah. The UK has over 120 military personnel in Iraq, approximately 1 per cent. of our total in-theatre force, for clearance of explosive remnants of war, and a significant number of Royal Engineers are involved in the marking and fencing of bomblet strike and mined areas. They have already completed 1,600 clearance tasks of unexploded ordnance of all types and have now made safe 619,000 explosive remnants of war and 350,000 small arms rounds.

Secondary information