Written question asked by Martin Caton (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 April 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 11 April 2003. It was answered by Geoffrey Hoon (Labour) on Friday, 11 April 2003 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Ministry of Defence

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what provision has been made by the British armed forces to clear unexploded bomblets from cluster bombs used in the war in Iraq. - Includes figure for joint force explosive ordnance disposal organisation.

Answer: Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision has been made by the British armed forces to clear unexploded bomblets from cluster bombs used in the war in Iraq. [108684] Mr. Hoon: A United Kingdom joint force explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) organisation of over 200 EOD-trained personnel is currently active in Iraq dismantling minefields, demolition charges and booby traps erected or left behind by the Iraqis. It is also stockpiling and destroying munitions, explosives and weapons discarded by members of the Iraqi armed forces. The same force will, as part of its routine operations to support freedom of military action, destroy any alliance weapons it finds that have failed to function, including unexploded cluster bomblets. Plans for humanitarian clearance of unexploded or abandoned munitions by appropriate UN or civilian contractors are still being drawn up. The Ministry of Defence will provide information on the use of munitions to assist humanitarian clearance.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 108684; 403 c423W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Ammunition Armed forces Armed conflict Deployment Bombs Bomb disposal Iraq Staff Weapons Iraq conflict
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk